What You Should Know About Covid 19 Vaccine Programme in Malaysia
With the arrival of the first batch of Covid 19 Vaccine Programme in Malaysia, many are eager to know what happens next and when they can get their shots. To date, the country has bought 66.7mil doses of vaccines from five Covid-19 vaccine producers, enough to vaccinate 109.65% of Malaysia’s population.Â
The vaccination is voluntary and will be provided free of charge to everyone living in Malaysia, including non-citizens. The Covid 19 Vaccine Programme will only be offered to people aged 18 years and above, though this will be re-evaluated if needed.
How Covid 19 Vaccination Programme Take Place in Malaysia?
Vaccines are one of the methods for us to curb this pandemic and one of the best ways to protect our society from COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic, various efforts have been carried out globally to develop Covid 19 Vaccine Programme. The Special Committee for Ensuring
Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) which is co-chaired by the Minister of Health Malaysia and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, was established to ensure timely access to the supply of COVID-19 vaccines for the country.
PHASE 1 (February – April 2021)
500,000 people
Frontliners (public and private healthcare workers), frontline personnel in essential and defence services
PHASE 2 (April – August 2021)
9.4 million people
The rest of the staff in healthcare, essential and defence services; the elderly (aged 65 years and above); high-risk groups with chronic diseases such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure; people with disabilities (OKU)
PHASE 3 (May 2021 – February 2022)
13.7 million people (or more)
Residents aged 18 and above (citizens and non-citizens*). Priority will be given to those in the red, yellow and then green zones (in that order).
*Non-citizens include diplomats, expatriates, students, foreign spouses and children, foreign workers & UNHCR card holders.
How is the covid 19 vaccine evaluated and approved?
Like other pharmaceutical products, vaccines are constantly monitored in terms of quality, effectiveness and safety. Right now, only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been given conditional approval based on strict compliance standards through the evaluation of scientific, clinical and technical data.Â
The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) is the body responsible for evaluating the vaccines to be registered in Malaysia. The Drug Control Authority (DCA), on the other hand, approves the use of the vaccines based on the results of NPRA’s evaluation. Each group of vaccines that will be used in Malaysia will be monitored from the aspect of compliance, according to WHO standards. After the vaccine is administered in Malaysia, monitoring of Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) will be carried out by MOH.
Are there side-effects after get Covid 19 Vaccine Programme?
The side effects of the Covid 19 Vaccine Programme that have been reported are mild and temporary. The most commonly reported side effects are:
• pain/swelling/redness at the injection site
• tirednes
• headache
• chills
• joint pain
• fever
• nausea
• feeling unwell
• swelling of the lymph nodes
• other side effects that may be reported from time to time
Individuals will need to observe for any potential side effects on their own. If there are any, report them via the MySejahtera app, the website or head to the closest government clinic.Â
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