KUCHING: No tests were performed on any individual during the Covid-19 vaccine delivery dry run to Belaga Health Clinic on Jan 29, said Sarawak Health director Dr Chin Zin Hing.
In a statement today, Dr Chin clarified that the dry run was an exercise that used only a bottle containing saline solution prior to the actual receiving and delivering of the vaccine from Pfizer Sdn Bhd.
“As previously informed by the Health Ministry (MoH), the dry run is a very important activity to start with before the actual Covid-19 vaccine is received by the MoH to be used in vaccination centres throughout the country.
“As is well-known, the vaccine produced by Pfizer requires storage at ultra cold temperatures at -75°C (+/-15°C) which poses a challenge in the vaccine distribution process.
“The dry run is held solely to see and ensure the retention of ultra cold temperature -75°C (+/-15°C) so that the vaccine produced by Pfizer is guaranteed throughout the delivery period from the manufacturer to rural destinations,” Dr Chin said.
He was responding to concerns voiced by netizens on social media with regard to the dry run.
Dr Chin said the activity also helped MoH in evaluating the feasibility of the processes involved in handling the vaccine throughout the nation as well as to serve as a simulation of the vaccine handling guide developed by MoH.
“For the dry run, the thermal shipping container used for vaccine storage containing dry ice and equipped with thermal logger was flown from Belgium via commercial flight to Subang before being flown to Kuching and sent via road to Bintulu and then Belaga.
“It was also found that the thermal shipping container sent by Pfizer managed to maintain the product storage temperature between -90°C and -60°C during the trip.”
Through the successful implementation of the dry run, Dr Chin said MoH hoped it could help all parties in planning the best measures to ensure the supply of real vaccine in a quality, safe and effective manner to all Malaysians in general and Sarawak in particular, especially for those living in rural areas.
