SARAWAK is currently negotiating to procure up to a million doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine, now that the state has been given the procurement nod by the prime minister, Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg disclosed today.

Speaking to reporters after attending a briefing on the Covid-19 situation in the industrial town of Bintulu, the chief minister said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin gave the consent in their meeting in Putrajaya two weeks ago. 

Sinovac is one of the vaccines that have already been approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulation Agency (NPRA).

Abang Johari said the vaccine would be purchased in two batches. 

Last Sunday, Assistant Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee had told reporters in Sibu the first batch of 500,000 doses will arrive “within a week”. 

The chief minister also said in his meeting with Muhyiddin, the state had been given the permission to rope in private hospitals as centres to administer the vaccination among private sector workers in large industries. 

In the arrangement, the hospitals do not procure the vaccine but would be supplied by the state government. 

Abang Johari said the hospital only charges for its service in administering the vaccination.

Talks to set a standard charge are ongoing, he added. 

He said large industrial companies and plantations that have lots of workers can start to make arrangements with the hospital of their choice to have their workers vaccinated. 

Sarawak however, has set its eyes on buying another Chinese vaccine, the single-dose CanSino for use in its rural areas. 

CanSino has yet to get the NPRA approval.

State disaster management committee chairman Douglas Uggah Embas in April had said since the CanSino is a single-dose vaccine, it is therefore more feasible for use in its large, under populated and logistically challenged interiors. 

“This is so we don’t have to go there twice.” 

Sarawak is looking at procuring between 600,000 and 800,000 of the CanSino. – May 19, 2021.