AstraZeneca dosing interval cut to nine weeks - Khairy

SEPANG: The Special Committee on Ensuring Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) has agreed to reduce the interval between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine to nine weeks from the current 12, said Khairy Jamaluddin.

The National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) Coordinating Minister said the almost one million people who had received their first AZ jab since May would be getting the notification for their second shot as soon as possible.

"Based on the JKJAV meeting last week and vaccine contribution from the Japanese government, we have agreed to reduce the period for the second dose of AZ to nine weeks," he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here today after witnessing the arrival of one million doses of AZ vaccine donated by the Japanese government.

On the issue of 700,000 senior citizens registered with PICK who have yet to be vaccinated, Khairy said this matter would be resolved this month.

He said the problem was due to a shortfall in vaccine supply.

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Khairy said a joint statement with the Health Ministry was expected to be issued tomorrow or next week on the decision to approve Pfizer vaccine for the use of young people below the age of 18.

He thanked the Japanese government for the vaccine donation, saying it would help to boost the PICK programme and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

The vaccines would be distributed to all vaccination centres (PPVs) administering AZ in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and Sarawak as soon as possible, he added.

With this contribution, the amount of AZ vaccine received by Malaysia now stands at 1,828,000 doses.

The Japan Airlines flight JAL723 carrying the vaccines landed at about 5.20 pm. Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Hiroshi Oka.

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According to a JKJAV statement, the vaccine from Japan would be used for the AZ opt-in programme which was implemented earlier and the balance would be channelled into PICK.

The AZ vaccine which arrived today was produced by Daiichi Sankyo Biotech in Saitama, Japan, and had been approved on May 21 by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency under the Japanese Health Ministry.

"The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency will also make its evaluation to get lot release for use of the vaccine in Malaysia," the statement said.

-- BERNAMA