A “SPECIAL vaccine injury scheme” will be prepared to cover any serious side effects that may arise from Covid-19 inoculation.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the cabinet had agreed the Health Ministry should prepare such a scheme, which would be announced in due course

“Yesterday the prime minister chaired a special cabinet meeting and that issue was discussed,” he said in a press conference after the launch of the national Covid-19 immunisation programme handbook.

The vaccine will be administered on a voluntary basis and is not mandatory.

The national Covid-19 immunisation programme will begin on February 26, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced today.

Malaysia is set to receive the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech shots on February 21.

Khairy said efforts will be taken to ensure minimum wastage of doses.

“We will also have protocols in place at the vaccination centres.  If there are excess doses which are not used because people did not show up, we will be giving those doses to the security personnel and people volunteering at the centres so that there is zero wastage,” he said.

Health Minister Dr Adham Baba, who was present at the press conference, said a dry run of vaccine delivery  to remote areas was held on January 29. – February 16, 2021.