Malaysia COVID-19 Vaccination: Everything you need to know
With Malaysia set to receive the first batch of Pfizer vaccines on 21st February 2021, there is much speculation on how the vaccines will be distributed amongst many other concerns surrounding the Malaysia COVID-19 Vaccination program.
As such, JAWATANKUASA KHAS JAMINAN AKSES BEKALAN VAKSIN COVID-19 (JKJAV) has released an official COVID-19 Vaccination Program Guidebook to address the many concerns expressed by fellow Malaysians.
Amongst the topics covered are:
Malaysia’s Vaccine Portfolio
| Vaccine | Pfizer | AstraZeneca | Sinovac | CanSinoBIO | Sputnik V |
| Type of Vaccine | mRNA | Viral Vector | Inactivated vaccines | Viral Vector | Viral Vector |
| Country of Origins | United States | United Kingdom | China | China | Russia |
| Number of Dosage | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Effectiveness | 95% | 62-90% | 50.4%-91.25% | 65.7% | 91.6% |
| Storage Temperature | -75°C | 2-8°C | 2-8°C | 2-8°C | -20°C |
| Total Dosage (million) | 32 | 12.8 | 12 | 3.5 | 6.4 |
| % Malaysian Coverage | 50% | 20% | 18.75% | 10.9% | 10% |
| Countries Using This Vaccine | United States, Singapore United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, European Union | United Kingdom, United States, South Africa, Ukraine, Brazil, European Union Canada, India | China, Indonesia, Turkey, Chile, Hong Kong, Brazil, Cambodia | China, Mexico, Pakistan | Russia, Argentina, Brazil, South Korea, Belarus |
Types of Available Vaccines
| Type of Vaccine | mRNA | Viral Vector | Inactivated Virus |
| Function | An mRNA sequence inserted into individual cells for production of a specific protein. | Contains viruses that have been modified (vector) to convey the antigen genetic code. It produces targeted proteins by the human cells. | Viruses that have been inactivated using high temperature, chemical or radiation. |
| Uses mRNA molecules to stimulate the immune system to recognize the targeted virus protein. | Uses a modified virus (vector) as a carrier which are not harmful to deliver genetic material of the targeted virus which stimulates human immune system response. | Viruses that have been inactivated and used for stimulating immunity response. | |
| Advantages | • Fast and Easy to produce • No living components, produced synthetically • Triggers adaptive immunity response | • Proven technology • Triggers adaptive immunity response which is even more effective | • Proven technology • No living components • Suitable for those with a weaker immune system • Easy to produce |
| Challenges | • Some mRNA vaccines are required to be stored at extremely low temperatures • First time used as a vaccine in human medical history | • Complicated production process • It is important to ensure viral vectors used are safe | • High production cost |
| Examples | None | Ebola, Vaccines for Farm Animals | Polio, Japanese Encephalitis & Rabies |
| Vaccine Producers | • Moderna • Pfizer/BioNTech | • AstraZeneca • CanSino Biologics • Johnson & Johnson • Sputnik V | • Sinovac |
3 Stages of Vaccine Distribution:
| Phase | Category | Duration | Coverage |
| 1 | 1. Healthcare Front liners (private and public sector) 2. Front liners under essential services / military defence | 26th February – April 2021 | 500,000 |
| 2 | 1. Remaining health care providers, essential services and defence 2. Elderly aged 65 and above, high risk individuals with existing chronic disease like obesity, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. | April – August 2021 | 9.4million |
| 3 | 1. Malaysia residence aged 18 and above (citizen and non-citizen) Priority will be red zone > yellow zone > green zone | August 2021 – February 2022 | 13.7million |
Additional Notes:
- Malaysia will start issuing vaccines on 26th February – February 2022.
- Malaysia targets to issue vaccines to 80% of residence (citizens and non-citizen) aged 18 and above.
- Malaysia has secured 66.7million vaccine dosage which is sufficient for 109.65% Malaysian residence.
- Vaccination will be distributed for free and it is on a voluntary basis.
- Individuals can sign up for vaccination via the MySejahtera App or JKJAV site (Registrations are currently still close).
Watch the full announcement:
