IPOH: The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaludin said the government has no problem with state governments wanting to purchase their own Covid-19 vaccines.
"Anyone can apply to the ministry (to purchase the vaccine) but the issue right now is the lack of supply and access, not the intention to purchase it.
"If they can purchase it, I have no problem with it. We can allow any state governments to purchase their own Covid-19 vaccines.
"But at this time, I know that there are supply issues and secondly, at this moment, we want to accomplish vaccine registration obtained by the federal government through NPRA (National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency).
"NPRA has to do so many works right now and there are two or three vaccines that need to get approval," he told reporters after visiting the vaccination centre (PPV) at the Indera Mulia Stadium here, on Tuesday.
Khairy was commenting on Pahang and Sarawak state governments expressing interest in buying their Covid-19 vaccines.
On whether there were other states wanted to buy Covid-19 vaccines, Khairy said Johor and Selangor had also joined the chorus.
"(Still), these states have yet to make any formal applications to ministry to buy their own vaccines.
"For the federal government, we have been negotiating since last year (to purchase the vaccines) and it is not easy," he said.