This is to avoid confusion over the issue of recognition of certain vaccines in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the US, the UK and the European Union (EU).

Khairy said this was something that had to be discussed thoroughly by the international community.

He said that so far, all parties, including Malaysia, do not know the immigration policy of most countries in the world because they have not been finalised.

“Some countries have issued their vaccine policies, and there is ongoing discussion with other countries,” he said at a press conference after visiting the industrial vaccination centre at KL International Airport today.

He was asked to comment on US President Joe Biden’s announcement that Washington is distributing 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to other countries.

While AstraZeneca has not yet been approved for use in the US, it has been widely approved worldwide and also by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Khairy stressed that any vaccine listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) should be recognised.

He said a clear policy on travel abroad should be established, adding that Malaysia has suggested screening tests for citizens of countries that do not recognise certain vaccines.