KUCHING: Sarawak is conducting studies though its research centres on the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines produced by China.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian in revealing this, said the Chinese government had recently approved the conditional mass use of Covid-19 vaccine produced by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech, China’s second Covid-19 vaccine, after Sinopharm’s.
In the meantime, he said the state government would only be distributing vaccines from Pfizer as approved by the federal government.
“The Health Department has also approved the use of this vaccine and in the United States, they have been using it since November of last year,” he assured, adding that the Pfizer vaccine was the first and only vaccine that had been approved currently.
Dr Sim said this during a Facebook Live session with Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting on Monday (Feb 8).
He noted that the federal government would also work on getting the Moderna vaccine manufactured by US-based company, ModernaTX, Inc.
“Approximately two million people who meet the requirement will be able to get the vaccination. In the meantime, vaccinations will be free, and the federal government will bear the costs accordingly.”
Dr Sim also noted that the federal government and private hospitals were currently in discussion on the distribution of vaccines in private hospitals and clinics.
“Because we want the masses to be vaccinated, private hospitals are still discussing the fees and wages of private hospital frontliners.
“But one thing’s for sure, whether it’s a government or private hospital, the vaccinations will be free of charge.”
