Malaysia plans to get Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine

Malaysia’s authorities signed a deal on purchasing 6.4 mln doses of a coronavirus vaccine produced by British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and also expect Russia’s Sputnik V, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in his televised speech on Tuesday (22 December).

The Vaccine Supplies Access Guarantee Special Committee, co-chaired by the Health Minister and the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, will ensure the vaccines could be acquired fast, he said. The government is also “in the final stage of negotiation with Sinovac, CanSino and Gamaleya [Sputnik V producer] to secure vaccine supply.”

“We will make certain that the acquired vaccines are safe and effective,” he stressed, also announcing plans to be among the first ones to receive the vaccine.

On December 13, the head of government said in late November 3 bln Malaysian ringgits ($700 mln) had been allocated to purchase the vaccine. Last month, an agreement was reached with Pfizer, which is due to supply 12.8 mln doses of the vaccine in 2021.

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