KUALA LUMPUR MAY 25: A total of 5,867 media practitioners from 114 registered media companies will be receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations in the near future, said the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Khairy said, considering the government’s decision to give priorities to front liners including media personnel and teachers, the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) has made the decision in line with the government’s move.
“Once CITF receives the details from the media associations in the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak on those who have been active in the media field for two years beginning May 1, 2019 until 30th April 2021, appointments will be given to them,” Khairy said at a virtual press conference held with Minister of Health Datuk Seri Dr. Adham Baba here today.
Khairy said, CITF has been cooperating with the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia and the media associations on this matter.
Khairy who is also the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation had earlier said, the media personnel will receive the COVID-19 vaccination this month as their work is exposed to the public and at the risk of contracting the infection .
On another development, Khairy said, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers will be able to access a new feature in MySejahtera apps on the recommended COVID-19 vaccines following the Health Ministry’s guidelines.
Khairy said, the new feature will be available this week where pregnant women could identify themselves through MySejahtera apps and appointments will be made with relevant vaccines that has been recommended by the Ministry’s guidelines.
The present guideline says, vaccination is recommended for women who are 14 until 33 weeks pregnant as well as lactating mothers.
Khairy added, they have been advised to consult their respective doctors on the COVID-19 vaccination.
According to Khairy, currently the advice is that Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for both pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. However, the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is only recommended for lactating mothers.
On the comment made by Senior and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Yaakob yesterday saying that Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine is “halal”, Khairy said, the Indonesian Religious Council has confirmed that Sinovac does not contain any pig’s product so do Pfizer and AstraZeneca that have been confirmed through studies and researches.
Regarding the allegation that the “fill and finish” production of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pharmaniaga Life Science Sdn. Bhd. factory in Puchong is of inferior quality compared to the one that comes directly from Sinovac factory in China, Khairy said: “This allegation is very irresponsible.”
He said, the filled and finished product of Sinovac must undergo product process validation and stability testing that could take up to 10 weeks before it is approved as the final product.
“The vaccines went through stringent processes and procedures as required by the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) before they are distributed to vaccination centres (PPV) nationwide,” he added. –Malaysia World News
