KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 Vaccine Candidate Selection Committee (JKPCV) is studying the use of Covid-19 vaccine on children aged under 12, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Health Minister II Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said the ministry held several discussions with producers in obtaining the current status and data related to Covid-19 vaccine efficacy and safety on the group.
While the ministry had yet to receive any necessary data from them Covid-19 vaccine producers, the committee had begun studying the matter based on scientific evidence through clinical studies or Real World Data, he said.
The data included Pfizer-BioNTech findings of its third phase of clinical trials on (children) aged five to 11.
"(The) vaccine was found to be safe, well-tolerated and showed robust neutralising antibody response.
"Based on a media statement by Pfizer and BionTech on Oct 15, the clinical data was then submitted to the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA)," he said in reply to a question from Wong Kah Woh (PH-Ipoh Timur).
Aaron said China had approved two vaccines produced by Sinovac Biotech and Sinopharm for emergency use on children aged three to 17.
He said the phases 1 and 2 clinical trials found that the vaccines were safe and could stimulate strong immune response among children and teenagers.
He said other vaccines like Novavax and Sinovac were undergoing phase 3 clinical trials for children.
"Malaysia was chosen as one of the locations for phase 3 clinical trial for Sinovac.
"The study, which will start at the end of October, will be conducted in 10 locations, comprised facilities under Health Ministry, Universiti Malaya and UiTM," he said, adding that Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) acted as the coordinator.