Pharmaniaga successfully distributes Sinovac vaccine earlier than contract schedule

KUALA LUMPUR: Pharmaniaga Bhd has supplied 12 million doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine to the government for the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) and the final batch will be supplied on July 21, which is four-and-a-half months earlier than the original contractual schedule.

The pharmaceutical company said since the number of first dose injections in all states had almost reached six million, instructions had been given to stop giving the first dose.

"Now the company is focusing on giving the second dose to avoid cases of no stock for the second dose if the first dose given should be more than six million doses," it said in a statement today.

Pharmaniaga's supply contract to the government is the supply of 12 million doses of COVID-19 Sinovac vaccine on a 'fill and finish' basis over a period of seven months between May and November 2021.

"When the number of COVID-19 infection cases rose sharply from March 2021, Pharmaniaga has taken proactive steps to expedite the supply of Sinovac vaccine by ordering imported vaccines ready for distribution in line with the distribution of 'fill and finish' vaccines," he said.

Pharmaniaga is also prepared to make additional supplies if the government intends to continue the use of Sinovac vaccine in PICK.

"The company has made an offer to increase the supply of two million doses to the government and is waiting for an official decision on it," it said.

Meanwhile, Pharmaniaga will continue to supply the COVID-19 Sinovac vaccine to state governments, government agencies and the private sector who have been long waiting for the supply to help speed up the vaccination programme in parallel with PICK.

-- BERNAMA