PETALING JAYA: Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin became the first person in the country to receive the Sinovac anti-Covid-19 vaccine on Thursday (March 18).
Khairy, who is also the coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, got the shot at the Vaccination Centre of Rembau Hospital in Pedas, Negri Sembilan.
The Rembau MP had stated that he chose the China-made vaccine to combat “selective vaccine hesitancy”.
On Feb 27, he said he wanted whichever Covid-19 vaccine is approved after Pfizer’s to counter the mindset of individuals who are hesitant to receive certain vaccines.
“There are those who prefer the Pfizer vaccine, and those who really want the Sinovac one.
“Some medical practitioners have said that the Sinovac vaccine uses the traditional inactivated virus platform. That’s how the old vaccines used to work and that’s tried and tested.
“Some have said the mRNA technology (behind Pfizer’s vaccine) is good because the efficacy rate is high.
“These are views we have to listen to but the government’s position is to take whatever vaccine the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) has approved.
“That’s why I have offered myself to take whatever vaccine the NPRA approves after Pfizer.
“If it’s Sinovac, it will be Sinovac. If it’s the Russian vaccine, it will be the Russian vaccine. If it’s the AstraZeneca one, it will be that,” he was quoted as saying.
Source: The Star Online
