THE Covid-19 immunisation programme will go on as planned, said Khairy Jamaluddin, after receiving assurance from the European Union and Belgian ambassador over export controls for shipment of vaccines.

“The Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) takes note of the recent announcement of export controls by the European Union (EU) of the Covid-19 vaccines that are manufactured in the EU,” the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said in a statement.

“Today I held discussions with the EU ambassador to Malaysia, Michalis Rokas, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Malaysia, Pascal H. Gregoire, for further clarification regarding the status of these vaccine deliveries to Malaysia,” he added.

He said Gregoire had assured that Pfizer can apply for export authorisation and the vaccines will be delivered on schedule to Malaysia beginning this month – therefore fulfilling Putrajaya’s Advanced Purchase Agreement with the manufacturer.

The Pfizer vaccine is manufactured in Puurs, Belgium.

Putrajaya has asked Pfizer to request approval for immediate export approval from Brussels.

“For the record, the first shipment of one million doses (coverage for 500,000) of the Pfizer vaccine will be used in Phase One of inoculation for front-liners and will be delivered in stages over the first quarter of this year,” he said.

With the assurances of both the EU and Belgian ambassadors, the Covid-19 immunisation plan is expected to proceed according to plan,” he added.

Khairy, who is co-chair of the JKJAV, said both the EU and Belgian embassies in Malaysia will be releasing statements regarding the matter.

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.

Earlier, the Immunisation Task Force demanded an explanation 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. – February 2, 2021.