KUALA LUMPUR: Those in urban areas are likely to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Meanwhile those in rural areas would most likely receive the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the vaccine distribution scenario was based on the logistics requirement for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be stored in lower freezing temperature compared to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Khairy said the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Committee had decided 55 locations to store the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine vials scheduled to arrive in February.
He said the AstraZeneca vaccine was expected to arrive in the first quarter of this year.
"There have been many concerns over the extreme temperatures that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept in and whether or not we have the facilities (to store them).
"To meet the requirements, we have approved the purchase of ultra low temperature freezers, cold box and other related medical supplies for the cold chain and ultra cold chain at RM16.6 million," Khairy told the media after attending an official proceedings by the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today.
Khairy said in the agreement with Pfizer, the company said it would deliver the vaccines to the point of vaccination, however Malaysia had to foot the storage costs.
He said one cold storage freezer cost between RM70,000 and RM80,000.
Only the Health Ministry can distribute the vaccines and those caught making unauthorised distribution of the vaccines will feel the long arm of the law.
"All vaccines need to be registered and approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) under the Health Ministry.
"Those found distributing the vaccines in the black market are breaking the law. We will continue to monitor and act swiftly if there are reports (on illegal vaccine distribution)," Khairy said.
Khairy also assured Malaysians that the country was not late in procuring the vaccines, citing Australia would get the vaccines in March and South Korea would only get them in the third quarter of this year.
"Some have asked why Singapore secured their vaccines earlier than us? It is because Singapore has a budget of over SGD1 billion and is able to make multiple bets with Pfizer and other companies for a population of three to four million people.
"We couldn't do that, we have over 30 million people. Even Japan is getting (the vaccines) in February, (and) Thailand is in May. So, I don't think we are late," said Khairy.
He added that Indonesia was able to procure the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine as they were part of the phase three of clinical trials.