THE Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine will be distributed in urban areas and the AstraZeneca shot, in rural areas, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

 He said this is because the German-US vaccine needs to be stored in ultra-cold temperatures while the UK product vaccine does not.

He said 55 storage points have been identified for the former.

Khairy said the procurement deal with Pfizer includes delivery but the agreement with AstraZeneca does not.

“What I can reveal is, I was asked and it will be reflected in the (PAC) report that (there are) lots of concerns about the extraordinary temperatures that the Pfizer vaccins must be kept in and whether we have the facility for it,” he said after briefing the Public Accounts Committee on the cost of the vaccines.

Health Minister Adham Baba and director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah were present at the meeting.

The government will fork out RM16.6 million to acquire freezers for the vaccines and the necessary supplies. Each freezer costs RM70,000-80,000.

Khairy said the vaccines will be administered on a voluntary basis and volunteers will be able to sign up for it on the MySejahtera app.

Putrajaya has committed RM2.05 billion (US$504.4 million) for the purchase of of vaccines to inoculate 82.8% of the population against the coronavirus.

It has inked agreements with Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Covax and is negotiating with China’s Sinovac and CanSinoBIO, and Russia’s Gamaleya National Centre to buy more. – January 5, 2021.