Malaysia to continue using AstraZeneca vaccine, says health minister

Malaysia to continue using AstraZeneca vaccine, says health minister

Adham Baba says the decision was made by the vaccine access special committee based on clinical data.

Malaysia has secured 12.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. (AP pic)
PUTRAJAYA:
Malaysia will continue to use the Covid-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, health minister Dr Adham Baba said.

He said this was decided at the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee meeting today.

“The use of the AstraZeneca vaccine will continue because clinical data available still points to benefits rather than harms,” he told reporters after a health ministry function.

Adham said the ministry has taken note of reported adverse effects and cases of blood clots among some vaccine recipients.

According to media reports, seven out of 30 AstraZeneca recipients in the UK died after suffering from blood clot.

British health regulators are reportedly considering recommendations to ban the use of AstraZeneca among younger people following concerns about rare cases of blood clotting.

On April 2, Malaysia granted conditional registration approval for the AstraZeneca vaccine supplied through the Covax facility by manufacturer SK Bioscience Co Limited, South Korea.

Adham said Malaysia would also procure 10% of AstraZeneca vaccines from Thailand through direct purchase.

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