Making a strategic choice for vaccine security

Photo: AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

THE recent developments in regional vaccine development and production capacity (“Key to be ready for major diseases”, The Star, May 18; online at bit.ly/star_biotech) should be welcomed by all, and not be seen as a threat to Malaysia’s biotechnology industry.

Even though Malaysia has set its sights on establishing a sustainable local vaccine production capacity at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, marked progress in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand must be taken into consideration for Malaysia to decide strategically moving forward with improving pandemic preparedness in light of fiscal woes and economic concerns.