THE Pakatan Harapan (PH) Immunisation Task Force has demanded to know from the government if the European Union’s (EU) exports control on Covid-19 vaccines will have an impact on the country’s immunisation plan.

“The Malaysian government must explain to the people the potential impact on our vaccine rollout, especially since Malaysia was initially expecting the first shipment of 144,000 Pfizer doses scheduled to be delivered to Malaysia this month, with the national Covid-19 vaccination programme targeted to start this month as well,” the taskforce said in a statement.

“The EU decision will inevitably affect Malaysia’s National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme,” it added.

The new export rules introduced on Friday require vaccine manufacturers to obtain permission before shipping Covid-19 vaccine outside the EU.

The export control enables EU member states and the European commission to block vaccine shipments from manufacturers who also have contracts to supply the EU.

The measure was imposed in response to AstraZeneca’s failure to meet its vaccine delivery schedule to the EU.

Meanwhile, the PH taskforce composed of MPs and state executive committee members said the policy has created grave concern of the potential rise of vaccine nationalism in vaccine-producing countries.

“PH urges the EU to respect developing countries’ rights to access Covid-19 vaccines,” it said.

“We stand united with all developing countries to urge vaccine-producing countries to respect the sanctity of agreements signed between countries and vaccine companies and not to impose any restrictions on exports.”

All countries must work together to resolve vaccine shortage in the spirit of the brotherhood of humanity, equal opportunities and sanctity of agreements, it added.

The taskforce also urged Putrajaya to clarify the status and impact of the measure on the National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme. 

“According to reports, Malaysia is not included in the list of over 120 countries exempted from tighter export restrictions on Covid-19 vaccines produced in the EU,” they said.

“The EU’s initial export controls on Covid-19 vaccines that the bloc bought in advance – including Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines – were effective from January 30 until March 31, 2021. This is expected to affect us as Malaysia’s Pfizer vaccine supply comes from the company’s manufacturing plant in Belgium,” the taskforce added.

Malaysia has also purchased 6.4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with delivery expected in April.

Meanwhile, China’s Sinovac vaccines, which have been scheduled for delivery by the first quarter of this year, have yet to be approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA). The process will usually take about 60-90 days.

The taskforce said the Sinovac vaccine has only shown 50.4 % efficacy in a late-stage trial in Brazil.

Therefore, the taskforce is of the view that all of these factors will likely to cause a further delay in the vaccination programme. 

“With the ever-increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases in our country, the government must now come out to clarify its plans and intention to address this change and lay out its alternative plans to manage the spread of Covid-19 while waiting for the arrival of the vaccines,” the taskforce said.

How will this delay affect our financial commitments to these pharmaceutical companies? What is the government’s new expected timeline in view of such developments?” it added.

The taskforce said the government is duty-bound to be transparent and to explain to the people the effects of this possible delay.

In addition, Putrajaya must also be proactive in drawing up plans to mitigate the effects of a potential delay and devise a comprehensive plan to improve virus containment.

“The flawed and slow FTTIS (Find-Test-Trace-Isolate-Support) response must be rectified immediately as to ensure adequate testing below the WHO benchmark of 5%, the backlog of cases remedied, and the contact tracing upgrade with the use of digital apps,” it said.

The taskforce is headed by former health minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad .

Other members include former deputy health minister and Gopeng MP Dr Lee Boon Chye, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, Lumut MP, Dr Hatta Ramli, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming, Penang Health exco Dr Norlela bt Ariffin, Selangor Health exco Dr Siti Maria Mahmud and Negri Sembilan health exco Veerapan. – February 2, 2021.