PETALING JAYA: A total of 312,390 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines will be flown in as the first shipment, says Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (pic).
He said the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines will be flown in a MASKargo flight and will arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Feb 21.
“There, it will be sorted and sent to various vaccine storage sites around the country, ” Khairy wrote on Twitter.
Earlier, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine will arrive in the country on Feb 21.
“The rollout of the programme will begin on Feb 26, ” he said during the launch of the guidebook for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Plan on Tuesday (Feb 16).
Muhyiddin said he would be the first person in the country to receive the vaccine to boost public confidence over its safety.
Muhyiddin also launched the www.VaksinCovid.gov.my website on Tuesday, and said that the immunisation book will be available on the website.
He added that the vaccine is important, not only to protect ourselves but also our loved ones – family members, colleagues, neighbours, and the community.
“This is the meaning of the slogan of the immunisation programme – protect yourself, protect all,” he said.
He said the positive impact would be felt when everyone was protected and the immunisation programme was rolled out.
“The economic sectors will be able to open, such as tourism. We can visit one another and get back to sports, although with a new normal. This is what I mean when I say that the vaccine is our main ray of hope in ensuring victory in the war against Covid-19,” said Muhyiddin
However, he said that we should not take it easy and he urged everyone to register for the vaccine when the time came.
“Remind your family and friends to get themselves vaccinated. Make sure that we are present at the set time for the first and second dose because when we are protected, we can protect others, especially our loved ones,” he said.
In January, Muhyiddin said that almost 27 million or over 80% of Malaysia’s population are expected to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the first quarter of 2022.
In January, Muhyiddin said that almost 27 million or over 80% of Malaysia’s population are expected to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the first quarter of 2022.
Muhyiddin said this in the special announcement on the Permai (economic and people’s protection package broadcast live on Jan 18 by local television stations and social media platforms.
He said the first batch of vaccines was expected to be received by the end of this February, with the group to be vaccinated by early March, and the vaccination programme implemented in phases over a period of 12 months.
“The country’s vaccination programme is on track and the government has signed three agreements with vaccine producers.
“Through the established special committee on ensuring access to Covid-19 vaccine supply, the government will ensure transparency in the procurement of vaccines and give utmost priority to the National Immunisation Programme.
“A total of RM3bil has been allocated specifically for this purpose. The guidelines and methods on receiving the vaccine will be announced soon.”
He said the special Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Malaysian Islamic Affairs has decreed that the Covid-19 vaccine is allowed and a necessity for specific groups.
“Ensuring the welfare of the community by protecting people from being infected by dangerous diseases is not something new from the Syarak (Islamic) perspective, ” he added.
Source: The Star Online
