It is unlikely that Covid-19 vaccines will be made available at private health facilities in the country this year.
Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said the authorities had to look into the registration and approvals of the Sputnik and CanSino vaccines, which were under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP), before weighing applications from Zuellig Pharma (for the Moderna vaccine) or Johnson & Johnson (for the Janssen vaccine).
"The earliest I see this happening is by November or December, but it is more likely for it to happen next year.
"In the meantime, I advise Malaysians looking to get vaccinated privately to register with MySejahtera.
"Get it done through the government, regardless of the vaccine. People shouldn't dawdle as variants are also becoming more aggressive."
He was given the assurance by the authorities that the arrival of the government's vaccines (under NIP) was expected to peak from this month to August to ramp up the vaccination rate.
He said most private hospitals had also dropped the idea of purchasing Covid-19 vaccine stocks this year due to storage and logistical issues.
"We can't buy the vaccine and gamble on it being approved (by the authorities). If the approval does not come on time, the stock may expire."
He said once approval was given for the vaccine and the purchase was made, shots would be give to those still waiting for their turn under Phase 3, as well as children, pending the government's decision.
Private hospitals were also looking at updates on the administration of booster shots from the World Health Organisation and from the health authorities such as the Drug Control Authority and the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, he added.
"We may be able to offer that as an option with the government's permission, when the time comes.
"This is because the government may not be able to focus on maintaining the herd immunity levels of the entire population for long and has to get on with economic recovery and so on.
"We could possibly help by giving people the option to get their booster shots," he said.
The government had earlier said private health facilities could look into buying their own vaccines outside the list of vaccines under the NIP.