MALAYSIA will be a part of the Covid-19 vaccine global access (Covax) platform, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) said today.

Its participation will allow Malaysia access to the required supply of vaccines.

“The government is negotiating the terms with The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI), which is managing Covax,” it said.

Covax is coordinated by GAVI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The government is also in the midst of negotiating the terms to be a part of CEPI.

Along with that, talks are also ongoing for a government-to-government agreement with China for access to vaccines developed by Chinese pharmaceutical companies.

The Health Ministry has also entered into non-disclosure agreements with a few international pharmaceutical companies, which are in the third phase of vaccine trials.

This will enable Putrajaya to negotiate on supplies of vaccines that could potentially be approved for Covid-19 treatment.

“The approach taken by Malaysia by being a part of Covax, establishing strategic ties with other countries and directly negotiating with pharmaceutical companies will ensure that Malaysia is able to get sufficient supply of the approved vaccine immediately and at a reasonable price,” Mosti said.

Mosti will be representing Putrajaya in negotiating the agreements.

Covax is a platform developed to support the research, development, and manufacturing of a wide range of Covid-19 vaccine candidates.

It is a procurement system that aims to provide participating countries fair and equitable access to vaccines by pooling purchasing power from these economies.

Covax aims to deliver two billion doses of safe and effective vaccines by the end of 2021, which will be sufficient to protect vulnerable communities and frontliners.

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) yesterday questioned Putrajaya on why Malaysia was not a part of Covax, which more than 170 countries has signed on for.

The statement comes in the wake of a report by health news site Code Blue, which quoted Health Minister Adham Baba as saying that Malaysia is still “communicating” with the WHO over the Covid-19 vaccine access plan. – September 19, 2020.