THE National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) has dismissed allegations that the rise in Covid-19 cases was due to the delay in getting approval for the vaccines before they are administered.

The agency denied the views of certain parties that there is a delay (for vaccine) as they are following the proper guidelines.

“NPRA through the Drug Control Authority has implemented a fast-track conditional application for the Covid-19 vaccine since December 14, which is through priority registration.

“This is to speed up approval and provide instant access to the vaccine without compromising the quality, safety and effectiveness using the risk-based approach,” NPRA said in a statement.

Malaysia today recorded the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases, reporting 7,289 new infections in the past 24 hours.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the fresh cases have taken the national caseload to 525,889.

This is also the first time the daily tally had passed the 7,000 marks.

The country also reported its second-highest number of Covid-19 fatalities in a single day after 60 people succumbed to the coronavirus in the past 24 hours.

NPRA said the application for registration has been shortened to 120 working days as soon as the conditional approval registration has been given.

“The usual time frame is 245 days. This reflects the standard that NPRA has adopted on accessing the vaccine dossier based on guidelines by the National Regulatory Authority including the World Health Organisation and other agencies.”

The agency added that applications and vaccine dossiers that are completed will be immediately screened to get conditional registration. – May 25, 2021.