THE Health Ministry will issue a statement on Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) stemming from the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine soon, said its minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
“The Health Ministry will be issuing a statement in the near future. Please be patient,” the Health Minister was reported as saying when met with reporters at the Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) Trial Connect 2024 at Connexion @ Nexus on Thursday (May 9).
Dr Dzulkefly was responding to a query on the progress of the issue after the ministry said it would seek clarification from AstraZeneca in relation to the side effects of the pharmaceutical giant’s COVID-19 vaccine as reported by foreign press recently.
For context, Indonesia’s National Commission for the Study and Prevention of Adverse Events Following Immunisation, along with its Health Ministry and the Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) said on Sunday (May 5) that there were no reported cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) associated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the republic.
Earlier, international media reported that pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca had admitted in a court document that its COVID-19 vaccine could cause rare side effects.
The firm is facing lawsuits over claims that the vaccine could cause death or serious injury, with a total of 51 cases filed in the UK High Court and claims totalling almost £100mil (RM595 mil).
On Monday (May 6) the Health Ministry gave its assurance that it will disclose all details related to AEFI stemming from the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to Dr Dzulkefly, his ministry has registration records of all COVID-19 vaccines administered to Malaysians.
“We have registration records on AEFI. There is a register which contains all data, including of fatalities.
“I had also previously raised this in the cabinet meeting on how this data must eventually be disclosed to the public. This is my responsibility and the ministry’s,” he said. – May 9, 2024
