CYBERJAYA: The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry will recommend to the Cabinet for the Covid-19 vaccine, once it is available for procurement, to be provided for free to all Malaysians.
Its minister Khairy Jamaluddin said although the Cabinet had not decided on this yet, a recommendation will be made for it to be provided for free to all Malaysians.
"My recommendation to the Cabinet is that the vaccine, once we have purchased it, should be given free of charge to all Malaysians," he said after the launching ceremony of the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) here today.
Malaysia, he said, was not only depending on China for the vaccine and was also looking at other manufacturers through its participation in Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in search for the Covid-19 vaccine.
He explained that CEPI had funded several research efforts by countries and companies in the West for the vaccine, including the one undertaken by the Oxford University.
It was reported that Oxford University is working with United Kingdom pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca for the development of the vaccine.
"We will work together with anybody. However, the most important thing for Malaysia is safety and efficacy first.
"Before we approve the purchase of the vaccine, we want to look into the data whether the vaccine is safe and effective as required by the National Pharmaceutical Regulation Authority under the Health Ministry.
"Secondly, we will look at who can provide us with the vaccine the quickest, after it has proven to be safe and effective. We obviously do not want to wait (longer)," he said.
Khairy also said Malaysia supported equitable access from other countries to the vaccine.
"We are concerned with reports that certain countries are entering into advanced purchase contracts with pharmaceutical companies to monopolise the purchase of vaccine, which are happening today.
"We want to make sure that countries such as Malaysia or other developing countries have equal access to the vaccine.
"(In this regard) China is treating this (the Covid-19 vaccine) as a global public good," said Khairy.