KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia today received two batches of Covid-19 vaccines comprising 1,059,200 doses of AstraZeneca and CoronaVac coronavirus inoculation jabs enhancing the country's vaccination campaign capacity.
The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) said a total of 559,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine which was made available from bookings through the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility, arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on MAS flight MH6125 at 7.50 am.
At the same time, 500,000 doses of the CoronaVac vaccine from Sinovac Life Sciences Co. Ltd also arrived via MAS flight MH361.
"The arrival of these supplies is in addition to the existing stock, making the latest number of AstraZeneca vaccines already received from the COVAX facility at 828,000 doses. The previously obtained stock stands at 268,800 doses.
"Another shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine supplies from COVAX with the same number of 559,200 doses will take place at the end of this month," said CITF in a statement today.
The task force said the AstraZeneca doses received to date have been ensured of their quality, is safe and effective through compliance with the Lot Release requirements.
CITF said the next vaccine batch will be sent to the AstraZeneca Vaccine Delivery Centre (PPVAZ) in the Klang Valley as well as in three other states namely Penang, Johor and Sarawak which have just joined the AstraZeneca Vaccine Invitation Initiative starting May 5.
"These are all part of the government's plan to further intensify the vaccination process under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Program (PICK)".
"Under PICK, the increased vaccination (campaign) is an effort by the Government to protect Malaysians from the Covid-19 pandemic, which will begin in June.
"As announced yesterday, PICK is now running according to plan and the vaccination rate for the Malaysian population will continue to increase in line with the increase in vaccine supply that will arrive from time to time", CITF said
It added that during this time, vaccination rates also recorded a consistent increase, with as many as 60,261 people have received their vaccinations on Monday 17 May; which has increased to 76,551 (Tuesday) and 83,648 (Wednesday).