ALL vaccination-related programmes and health strategies related to COVID-19, from now on, only be handled by the Health Ministry (MOH) through its newly appointed minister Khairy Jamaluddin, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
On the other hand, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI), now helmed by former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, will focus on research and development (R&D) to produce COVID-19 vaccines.
“If prior to this, there were two related ministries (COVID-19) namely the MOH and MOSTI, besides a committee chaired by two ministers, two secretaries-general and two directors-general… it is quite difficult if it remains as two because they may have different views and so on.
“MOSTI will focus on producing its own vaccine because if Thailand can announce that it is producing its own vaccine, then Malaysia can also do the same because COVID-19 will be endemic and will be around us like dengue, which means vaccines are still needed.
“(And) that is why MOSTI has to focus (on this) so that we don’t depend on foreign countries because when the number of cases increases and we still depend (on vaccine supply) from abroad, it will cause supply to be affected. If we can produce our own vaccines, the situation will be different,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said this at a media conference after witnessing the Para Predators Exercise Series 1/2021 that was also attended by Chief of Defence Force Tan Sri Affendi Buang and Army chief Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain in Kampung Batu Bor in Bera today. – Aug 28, 2021.
