REGISTRATION for Covid-19 vaccination will open to the public on March 1, said Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said the Health Ministry has identified several methods that the public could use to register, and it would also identify target groups to ensure they received the vaccination.

“There are five methods that we have identified for registration, including using the MySejahtera application, website or phone number,” he said at the press conference on the latest developments of Covid-19 today.

The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Handbook, published earlier today, listed five registration methods, including via MySejahtera and a special website at www.vaksincovid.gov.my.

The other three methods are calling a hotline (will be announced later), attending public and private health clinic facilities or through assistance programmes for residents in rural and remote areas.

Dr Noor Hisham also said the ministry had been preparing for the Covid-19 vaccination programme since August last year, which also included the provision of infrastructure to ensure that the vaccine was received and stored safely.

He said the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) approved each vaccine based on the three-phase study data, covering effectiveness and safety.

He said the ministry was of the view that only those aged 18 and above should be vaccinated, even though some countries provide jabs to 16-year-olds.

“This is because from the age of 16 to 18, there is no solid evidence to show that the vaccine can be used. We adhere to the studies that have been conducted and look at effectiveness and also side effects,” he said.

He said if there were side effects from the vaccine, the ministry will record and report it to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Asked about the vaccine manufacturing companies that has been registered with NPRA, Dr Noor Hisham said that the ministry had received dossier from Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V (developed by Russia’s Gamaleya Institute).

“NPRA is still conducting evaluations on the effectiveness and side effects of vaccines, especially phase three clinical studies.

“For the Sputnik vaccine, we have given feedback to the company, our questions, so that they can provide the answers for us to present them for approval,” he said, adding that conditional approval may be given to the company.

“If there are side effects or latest data, they can submit them back to the NPRA for evaluation,” he said. – Bernama, February 16, 2021.