The Malaysian Insight

PUTRAJAYA should allow the private sector to procure all types of vaccines for its vaccination programme, keeping in mind the global supply situation, said Dr Kuljit Singh. 

The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president was responding to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s announcement yesterday that private vaccination might be available in August to those willing to pay. 

“We are of the opinion that this is a timely decision as there are many private companies with huge workforces contributing to the country’s economy that require early vaccination to their workers and staff. 

“Besides that, there are also individuals who are desperate to have their vaccines early for travel and business reasons,” Kuljit said in a statement today. 

However, he said there was a global shortage of vaccines and unfair international distribution of vaccines to many parts of the world including Malaysia, and this made the luxury of having all types of vaccines in private may be impossible at this point of time. 

This being the case, Kuljit urged the government to reconsider the decision to confine the vaccination programme to only a certain type or brand of vaccines, as that will fail to fulfil the primary reason for private vaccination.  

“The private sector would be very cautious if the type of vaccines they pay for is limited as it is common knowledge that the acceptability of vaccines internationally varies largely on the source and type of vaccines,” he said. 

He added that it is important to make an assortment of vaccines available for the public to choose according to their needs, when the jabs are commercialised. 

With this, the issue of unfair distribution and inequality will not arise anymore as most of the population, particularly those who are front-liners, vulnerable and with low economic status would have been vaccinated, he said. 

“Vaccination of Covid-19 is deemed to be a long-term solution to this pandemic, which may be inclusive of the possibility of booster doses next year,” he said. 

“With this in mind, it will be only logical that private vaccination should be open to all types and brands of vaccines as the consumers will pay based on their selected choice,” he added. 

Kuljit said the government should consider these facts as the private sector will have to strategise their procurement plans. 

Vaccines will have to be approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency and the Drug Control Authority. 

The jabs that have been approved for use in Malaysia are Comirnaty by Pfizer-BioNTech, Vaxzevria by AstraZeneca-Oxford and CoronaVac by Sinovac. 

The two latest vaccines to get a conditional approval by the DCA are the single shot vaccines – Convidecia Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Vaccine (Adenovirus Type 5 Vector), developed by China-based CanSino Biologics Inc, and the Janssen Covid-19 Vaccine by Johnson & Johnson. – June 25, 2021.