THE molnupiravir antiviral drug will be used to treat Covid-19 patients who have been symptomatic for five days, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

Khairy said the government had decided to procure the drug despite the high vaccination rate, as post-vaccination breakthrough infections were still happening.

“Although our vaccination rate is very high, where almost 90% of adults have been fully vaccinated, we have decided to buy this pill because there are still breakthrough infections,” he said in a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital today.

“There are cases in categories 3, 4 and 5 which require hospitalisation,” he said.

Khairy said clinical trials have shown the pill to be effective against severe Covid-19 infections.

He said there is a possibility that the pill will also be administered to those with severe infections, adding that the pill is needed to complement the high vaccination rate in the fight against Covid-19.

“We have given doctors the option to administer the pill to those who have been vaccinated as well as the unvaccinated who have serious symptoms due to underlying health conditions,” he said.

The government has procured enough supplies for 150,000 patients for a start as it does not need a large stock due to the high vaccination rate, the health minister said.

The pill will be administered for free at government health facilities.

Earlier today, Khairy announced that the ministry has signed a letter of undertaking to procure molnupiravir from Merck Sharp & Dohme.

Khairy said this decision is part of the country’s preparation to enter the endemic phase of Covid-19. – October 7, 2021.