According to Sin Chew Daily, the Health Director-General, Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham mentioned that if Malaysia is chosen as one of the counties to produce the vaccine for COVID-19, we are ready to participate in the vaccine trials. This will help Malaysia to become a vaccine-accessible country after the successful development of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Photo source: Asia One
"We are ready to receive the vaccine so that the research work can be carried out here and we can monitor the effectiveness of the vaccine. Moreover, if we have identified a vaccine to treat COVID-19, we can ensure that Malaysia has priority in obtaining the vaccine because we are involved in vaccine trials," he added.
He too expressed that although Malaysia has no ability to self-develop the vaccine, Malaysia could help in producing it. The government is also discussing this matter with 2-3 countries which are also capable of this.
Dr. Noor Hisham said that although the COVID-19 vaccine is produced, we still have to examine the side effect of the vaccine. Malaysia has also been identified as one of the WHO research sites, therefore, Malaysia is willing to accept vaccine research to monitor its effectiveness.
“If we work together, we can contribute our data towards research and although we lack the basic resources to develop the vaccine, we can contribute in terms of vaccine manufacturing,” he disclosed, as reported by the New Straits Times.
