KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 12): The government has ordered a total of 87.9 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines as of Sept 13, with an estimated cost of RM4.64 billion covering vaccine costs and logistics.

Of the 87.9 million doses of vaccines, 44.8 million doses were the US’ Pfizer vaccine, 20.4 million were China’s Sinovac vaccine, 6.4 million doses were AstraZeneca vaccine provided by Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, 6.4 million doses were obtained from Oxford-AstraZeneca, 6.4 million doses were Gamaleya's Sputnik V, while 3.5 million doses were from Cansino Biologics Inc.

The Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sputnik V vaccines require two doses while only the Cansino vaccine requires one dose.

“Procurement for the Janssen vaccine is through the COVAX facility. Until now, the government is still waiting for confirmation of the number of doses to be received from the COVAX facility party,” said Deputy Health Minister II Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang in Parliament on Tuesday.

According to the deputy minister, who is also Kanowit MP, Moderna and Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines were not included in the vaccine procurement portfolio for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Program (PICK).

“Given that the Malaysian government is bound by non-disclosure agreement (NDA), a condition of confidentiality set by the company of the vaccine manufacturers, the details of each agreement will not be disclosed, including the price of the vaccine.

“However, the cost of procurement for each type of vaccine has been explained in the proceedings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), special meeting of the 14th Parliament held on Aug 2, 2021,” said Aaron.

As of Oct 8, a total of 51.59 million vaccine doses have been distributed across the country, comprising 28.01 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, 19.66 million doses of Sinovac's vaccine, 3.62 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, and 297,270 doses of Cansino vaccine.

On the distribution of vaccine according to states and federal territories, 8.59 million doses were given to Selangor, 5.8 million doses to Johor, 5.66 million doses to Sabah, 5.33 million doses to Kuala Lumpur, 4.51 million doses to Sarawak, 3.88 million doses to Perak, and 3.17 million doses to Kedah.

This was followed by 3.1 million doses to Penang, 2.57 million doses to Kelantan, 2.43 million doses to Pahang, 1.86 million doses to Negeri Sembilan, 1.86 million doses to Terengganu, 1.44 million doses to Melaka, 740,230 doses to Putrajaya, 417,270 doses to Perlis, and 231,950 doses to Labuan.

Batu Kawan MP Kasthuriraani Patto asked the deputy minister earlier about the number of Covid-19 vaccines purchased, the cost of purchasing different types of vaccines as well as the distribution of vaccines by states in the country.

To date, a total of 24.51 million people, or 94.8% of Malaysia’s adult population, had received their first shot, including 21.44 million people, or 90.4% of the adult population, who are fully vaccinated.

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