KUALA LUMPUR: The first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine has arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), transported via MAS flight MH604 operated by MABkargo Sdn Bhd (MASKargo).
The aircraft touched down at 10.07am.
On hand to receive the vaccines were Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin; Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
The momentous occasion was aired live on RTM, Bernama TV and the Health Ministry's Facebook page.
The vaccine distribution will be handled by DHL Express, which is the appointed agent for global distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.
A total of 312,390 vaccine doses were flown on a Passenger-to-Cargo (P2C) flight using an Airbus 330-300 aircraft.
The vaccines departed from Puurs, Belgium and transited at the Leipzig Halle Airport, before continuing its journey to Singapore for distribution to other Asia Pacific countries, including Malaysia.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme will commence on Feb 26, which would see Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the first vaccine recipient, alongside health frontliners in the first phase set to be carried out until April.
The second phase will be conducted between April and August this year for senior citizens aged 60 and above and high-risk groups.
The third phase, for those aged 18 and above, will start in May this year and is expected to be completed by February next year.
The government plans to vaccinate at least 80 per cent of the population, or around 26.6 million people in the country's biggest vaccination drive ever.