THE government plans to top up its order for a Covid-19 vaccine to provide inoculation for up to 70% of Malaysians.

For now, Malaysia has secured enough doses for 30% of the population, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

“I have instructed Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba along with Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar (science, technology and innovation minister) to negotiate and increase the order from 30% to 60 or 70% (of the population),” he said.

Muhyiddin said this was done on the advice of the Health Ministry.

“More vaccine doses mean more people will be protected from the coronavirus,” he said in a speech at Deepavali celebrations in Gambir today. 

Muhyiddin, who is the Gambir assemblyman, said suppliers were been asked to expedite delivery of the vaccine, which is scheduled in March. 

“(Whether the vaccine be) effective of not, let’s not get the people upset with the prime minister (for not purchasing enough)… others have purchased so I am doing the same… we will quickly buy more.

“I also told the ministers to inform the suppliers to expedite delivery… this is of utmost importance.” 

On November 24, the government, through the Health Ministry, signed a preliminary purchase agreement with pharmaceutical company Pfizer to procure 12.8 million doses of vaccine to cover 20% of the population, or 6.4 million people.

Two days before that, an agreement with the Covax facility was also signed to meet the immunisation needs of 10% more Malaysians. 

Meanwhile, the prime minister ordered field hospitals to be reopened in view of the high number of new daily cases in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, Johor and more.

“Although the measures taken by the government have been quite effective compared to other countries, we have to yet to overcome the pandemic. 

“We have not been able to flatten the curve, and according to projections, this could take a very long time,” he said.

Muhyiddin said he had gone without a good night’s rest since the day he took office and responsiblity for the nation’s health amid a coronavirus outbreak.

“Today as well, without rest. As long as the people are facing danger in the form of Covid-19, I will not rest. I will continue working, managing Covid-19 and the country’s economy.”

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said the government was conducting a study on the number of Malaysians living below the poverty line as a result of the health crisis. 

“The poverty line income has been raised to RM2,208 and when it is raised, many will fall into the B40 group – the poor and hardcore poor.” – Bernama, December 13, 2020.