THE cabinet today agreed to the setting up of a Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee to ensure that any vaccine can be obtained immediately, safely and perfectly when available.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in a statement today the special committee will be co-chaired by him and Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.

“The decision to set up the special committee is important to ensure that careful preliminary preparations are made before we receive the supply of the vaccine for the use of all Malaysians,” he said.

Khairy said the committee will work on the Covid-19 vaccine acquisition and prepare the distribution framework when it is approved for use in Malaysia.

Several sub-committees with specific job scopes will also be set up across ministries and agencies to facilitate and expedite the implementation of the plan, he said.

Among the job scopes are the selection of a vaccine, communications, registration and approval, trade facilitation, finance, storage, logistics and transportation, as well as distribution of the vaccine.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the Covid-19 vaccine from China will probably be available in Malaysia by year-end after the republic agrees to list Malaysia as a priority recipient after completing clinical trials. – Bernama, October 14, 2020.