KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Ministry of Health has pledged to purchase an additional 12.2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, in addition to the 12.8 million doses the country had already lined up.
This will give Malaysia enough Pfizer sights to absorb about 39% of their population, the ministry said in a statement Monday – as each individual needs two doses. A gala reception for the provision was held on the same day, with Health Minister Adham Baba signing on behalf of the government.
Distribution of the first 12.8 million doses is expected to begin in late February, with the latest order arriving during the year.
The Malaysian government had already contracted with the British-Swedish drug dealer AstraZeneca to receive 6.4 million doses of its vaccine, covering about 10% of the population. The country’s nearly 33 million people are also poised to receive another 6.4 million doses from the World Health Organization’s COVAX facility.
In addition to the three arrangements, Malaysia is still in active vaccination talks with China-based Sinovac and CanSino Biologics, as well as the Russian Gamaleya Center.
The government has set aside about 3 billion ringgit ($ 741 million) for vaccine purchases.
Science Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who heads a vaccine procurement committee, said the first batch of supplies would be 1 million doses – enough to vaccinate 500,000 people with two doses 21 days apart.
First consignments will be reserved for forwards including health care workers, police and army officers.
In addition to halting the virus and reviving the economy, the introduction of vaccines has important political implications. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, after waiting for a leadership challenge for months, has vowed to call a general election once the epidemic is over.