The Malaysia’s national COVID-19 immunsation programme is currently underway and it is offered free to everyone in Malaysia including both citizens and non-citizens. For those who are willing to pay to get vaccinated at their preferred private hospital, the Malaysian government is currently in talks with the private sector to allow them the opportunity to offer COVID-19 vaccination.
Khairy Jamaluddin, the Minister in charge of the national vaccination effort has reminded that vaccinations through the private sector would take some time. He said based from his experience negotiating with vaccine suppliers, the earliest delivery for the private sector could be around the third or forth quarter of the year.
The Minister said he will discuss with the private hospitals to grant them permission to negotiate and procure the vaccines. To manage expectations, he told the public don’t think people who are wealthy can expect to get the jab early if they can afford to pay because there’s a vaccine shortage around the world.
He said “As much as we encourage the private sector to try to negotiate for contracts, I always ask them where is it that you imagine you are going to get these vaccines from? There are very limited in supply. But since they don’t want to take my word for it, I’ll let them to try to procure. But to manage expectations of Malaysians, I can tell you that the private market will not immediately be available.
Malaysia is currently under Phase 1 of the immunisation program which aims to vaccinate a total of 500,000 frontliners by April 2021. Phase 2 which will cover senior citizens, people with chronic illnesses and people with disability will