PUTRAJAYA will book Covid-19 vaccines in advance with the RM3 billion allocated under Budget 2021, said the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said the ministry is confident the allocation was sufficient to make an initial order for the supply, which is expected to be secured in the first quarter of next year once approved by the Health Ministry.

“We will start making early bookings of the Covid-19 vaccine being developed. I expect that within a month or two, we will get information from the Health Ministry on the effectiveness of the vaccine,” he told reporters after visiting areas affected by flash floods in Seremban today.

Khairy is also the co-chairman of the Covid-19 Vaccine Supplies Access Guarantee Special Committee.

In tabling Budget 2021, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the government was committed to acquiring Covid-19 vaccines through its participation in the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access, with an estimated cost of more than RM3 billion.

Meanwhile, Khairy, who is also Rembau MP, said the RM400 million allocation to carry out research and development to support science and technology innovation is crucial to commercialising local products and technology.

“We do not want to rely only on foreign technology, which involves high cost. Therefore, we will focus this large sum allocated on domestic products and technology research,” he added.

In a separate development, Khairy, who is also the Negri Sembilan Development Action Council committee chairman, said an allocation of RM500,000 would be channelled to repair damaged roads and the riverbanks of Kg Kuala Sawah, which collapsed following floods last Wednesday.

The river also connects several nearby areas including Kg Stesen, Kg Pasir and Pekan Kuala Sawah. – Bernama, November 7, 2020.