The ceiling price for the Covid-19 vaccine offered by the Covid-19 Global Vaccine Access (COVAX) plan has been revealed to cost US$21 (RM87.60) each.
Science, Technology and Innovations Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, announced in a Dewan Rakyat session today (Wednesday, 4th November), that the government is currently in the final stages of negotiations to take part in COVAX.
He added that the official discussions are also being done with the Finance Ministry, Health Ministry and Attorney-General’s Department. There is also a need to familiarise with a few clauses in the agreement.
“We hope that we are able to sign the Covax agreement soon. However, I want to clarify that this is only part that we (Malaysia) need in the acquiring of the vaccine. The bigger part of this procurement process will be achieved via two-way negotiations between Malaysia and other countries,” said the minister.
He was responding to a question by Libaran MP Datuk Zakaria Edris regarding the indicative price for the vaccine. Khairy was also asked by the aforementioned MP on the progress of the vaccine attainability and price.
In response to Papar MP Ahmad Hassan’s question on the method of fair supply of the vaccines, Khairy stated that the vaccine is expected to be obtained in the first quarter of 2021, with priority given to 3% of the country’s population.
“The first group consists of frontline personnel covering the health and safety sectors. This includes doctors, nurses, police, as well as prison and immigration officers. Vaccine access to those in rural areas will also be refined and elevated as a priority,” Khairy was quoted as saying.
