KUALA LUMPUR: In an effort to lower the country's dependency on acquiring vaccines from other countries, Malaysia will start developing its own soon, said Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said this was in line with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's aim for Malaysia to become a vaccine-manufacturing country in the long run.
At the moment, Khairy said, Malaysia was only a manufacturing country for animal-related vaccines, and not human-related vaccines.
"MOSTI, together with the Health Ministry, has been given the responsibility of preparing a plan to develop and manufacture vaccines. This will be tabled to the cabinet in the next six months.
"The vaccines that will be developed soon will not only give focus on Covid-19, but also for Malaysia to be prepared for any new pandemic.
"In addition, the government also suggested that the 'fill-finish' process ( for bottling) is done here as it will be easier for the vaccines to be distributed to all Malaysians," he told a press conference at the Parliament building here today.
He said the government was currently looking into several vaccines being developed in other countries such as China, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Khairy said the Health Ministry will do the necessary research and later choose the best vaccines that will suit all Malaysians.
He said two government-linked companies (GLCs) - Pharmaniaga and Duopharma Biotech Bhd - which are also pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, have been identified for the "fill-finish" process for the Covid-19 vaccine once it becomes available.
Fill-finish refers to the bottling and packaging aspects of pharmaceuticals when it has been developed.
"The two companies have told the government that they are willing to take stock production and prioritise it for the Covid-19 vaccine when it becomes available.
"This is how the private sector is working with us to ensure that the vaccine will quickly reach the people. If we have the capacity, we will also offer our fill-finish service to other countries.
"We are not developing our own vaccine and we have been told that the bottleneck when it comes to vaccine distribution is at the 'fill-finish' stage.
"We will purchase the vaccine in bulk in liquid form before it is dispersed into vials for distribution," he said.
He said once the Health Ministry has identified the best vaccine, the government will purchase it and it will be the ministry's responsibility to have it packaged and later distributed.