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Malaysia has received its first batch of Covid-19 vaccines today (21 Feb) as flight MH606 carrying Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine landed in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 10.00am.

The vaccines (bearing 312,390 doses) were flown in from Puurs, Belgium after transiting at Leipzig Halle Airport, Germany and Changi Airport, Singapore.

Along with the arrival of the vaccines, Science, Technology & Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced the good news that the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme will begin earlier on 24 February 2020 (Wednesday) instead of 26 February as previously decided.

Credit: @kementeriankesihatanmalaysia/Facebook

The first recipients of the vaccine will be Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Khairy explained that initially the date was set at 26 February to account for distribution of the vaccines to storage areas as well as to give the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) sufficient time to inspect the vaccines to ensure its quality.

But looking at the NPRA’s efficiency, along with all related bodies were ready, the prime minister said “let’s start early”

Khairy Jamaluddin, Science, Technology & Innovation Minister

After the PM & Health DG, vaccines will be given to those who will be administering the jabs.

Credit: Facebook & Malay Mail

Teachers may also be included in the first phase of the Covid-19 vaccinations

It appears that teachers may soon be included in the first phase of the Covid-19 vaccinations, ahead of the schools reopening in March.

Khairy explained that the Special Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Committee (JKJAV) will ask the Education Ministry to list down priority recipients of teachers to be vaccinated, with priority to those with comorbidities.

We will try to accommodate teachers, but this is also subject to availability, supply and risk assessment.

Khairy Jamaluddin, Science, Technology & Innovation Minister.

Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccinations will be delivered in three phases:

  • Phase 1 (Februari – April 2021) – frontliners
  • Phase 2 (April – August 2021) – high risk groups and those aged 60 years old and above
  • Phase 3 (May 2021 – February 2022) – Malaysians aged 18 years old and above.

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