ALL vaccination-related programmes and health strategies related to Covid-19 will from now on only be handled by the Health Ministry (MOH) through its newly appointed minister Khairy Jamaluddin, said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI), now helmed by former health minister Dr Adham Baba, will focus on research and development to produce Covid-19 vaccines. 

“If prior to this, there were two related ministries (Covid-19) namely MOH and MOSTI, besides a committee chaired by two ministers, two secretaries-general and two directors-general… it is quite difficult if it remains as two because they may have different views and so on. 

“MOSTI will focus on producing its own vaccine because if Thailand can announce that it is producing its own vaccine, then Malaysia can also do the same because Covid-19 will be endemic and will be around us like dengue, which means vaccines are still needed.

“(And) that is why MOSTI has to focus (on this) so that we don’t depend on foreign countries because when the number of cases increases and we still depend (on vaccine supply) from abroad, that will cause supplies to be affected. If we can produce our own vaccines, the situation will be different,” he said at a media conference at Kg Batu Bor, Bera today.

Ismail said he has informed the director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah that factories, especially those with a high number of foreign workers, can set up vaccination centres (PPV) to prevent overcrowding, like what had happened at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium PPV. 

“We also hope factories can purchase their own vaccines as this would be faster. We had also said that factories with 80% of their workers fully vaccinated can resume operations. I believe the cost of vaccines is not as expensive as compared to the losses suffered if they continue to remain closed,” he said.

The prime minister also informed the health DG to increase the number of drive-through PPVs as they are cost-effective and efficient in reducing physical contact. 

Ismail added that the government may make Covid-19 jabs compulsory if many continue to reject the vaccine. – Bernama, August 28, 2021.