Private vaccination should offer different types of Covid-19 vaccines

KUALA LUMPUR: The private Covid-19 vaccination programme, expected to roll out in August this year, should be able to offer different vaccines to people so that they can decide which is the most suitable according to health conditions.

Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said the government should reconsider its decision to confine to only a certain kind of vaccine for this purpose.

By limiting vaccine choices, he said, it would defeat the purpose of having private vaccination.

"The private sector would be very cautious if the type of vaccines they pay for are limited (in types and brands), as it is common knowledge that the acceptability of vaccines internationally varies largely on the source and type of vaccine.

"When commercialisation of vaccines begins, it is key that there is an assortment of different types of vaccines made available in order for the public to choose accordingly to fit their needs.

"The current issue of unfair distribution and inequality of vaccine (availability) will not arise anymore in August as most of the population would have been vaccinated, particularly the frontliners, the vulnerable and those in low economic groups.

He said Covid-19 vaccination was deemed to be a long-term solution to the pandemic, with the possibility of booster doses to be administered from next year.

"With this in mind, it will be only logical that private vaccination should be open to all types and brands of vaccines, where consumers will pay for their preferred choice," said Dr Kuljit in a statement today.

He hoped this would be considered by the government soon as the private sector would need to strategise on their procurement plans.

Dr Kuljit was responding to the announcement by Science, Technology and Innovation minister and Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin who said that private vaccinations were expected to begin in August.

Dr Kuljit said it was a timely decision as there were many private companies with huge workforce contributing to the country's economy that require early vaccination for their workers and staff.

People who are desperate to have their vaccines early for travel and business reasons would also opt for the private vaccinations, he added.

Yesterday, Khairy was reported saying that private vaccinations had been delayed to August due to the worldwide short supply of vaccines.

Khairy said he was in talks with the Health Ministry on the matter and had instructed a government-linked pharmaceutical company to discuss the import of vaccines for the private hospital with Chinese companies.