According to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI), the arriving vaccines are safe and have already proven to be safe for the public under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
Speaking at the Clubhouse Let’s Talk About Covid-19 Vaccines virtual talk, MOSTI Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said there are multiple vaccines hesitants in Malaysia spearheaded by the anti-vaccination movement.
“I have been hearing that these kinds of people say that Malaysia’s mortality rate is so low we do not need the vaccine and we can become asymptomatic from the virus. However, there is a serious long-term effect of Covid-19,” he emphasised.
Joining in is National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Director Institute for Clinical Research, Dr. Kalaiarasu Peariasamy said that the vaccine selection was extremely careful and involved field experts ranging from public health experts, pathologists, and infectious diseases experts.
Pfizer’s mRNA proved to be prudent in all public clinical trials during the first phase of vaccination globally due to its high safety and efficacy rate.
“Based on how public trial designs go, it will become efficacy versus effectiveness and vaccinated vs unvaccinated because society is aware of what’s happening in the world,” he added.
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia on Public Health Issues, Dr Jemilah Mahmood pointed out that the country’s rate of vaccination is normal, and it is not late according to some part of the public.
“We can simply look at South Korea on the matter, they are one of the top in controlling the Covid-19 outbreak compared to other countries. However, South Korea will start vaccinating around the same time as us but all in all we need to be vaccinated from the virus,” she said.
Additionally, the Coordinating Minister for Covid-19 Immunisation, Khairy foresees that there are benefits on the slow roll-outs because the Government can observe how other countries manage the vaccination and if there are any casualties involving the vaccines.
The Pfizer vaccine will arrive on Feb 21 and Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be the first Malaysian to be vaccinated on February 26 under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
