Malaysia receives 1 million Pfizer jabs from US

Malaysia today received one million doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine from the US in support of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Program (PICK) which is now in full swing.

The consignment was flown in by a cargo aircraft, TH 384, belonging to Raya Airways, which landed at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang at 8.10am.

Awaiting the arrival of the aircraft were PICK coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who is science, technology and innovation minister; Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and US ambassador to Malaysia Brian McFeeters.

The aircraft, which left Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on July 2, departed from Singapore at about 7am today before arriving in Malaysia.

The vaccine supply is the second contribution from a foreign country. Last Thursday, Malaysia received one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca from the Japanese government.

McFeeters said the vaccine contribution was a reflection of the partnership between between Malaysia and the US.

“We have a long solid partnership on public health issues… The US is committed to working with the Malaysian government to support its ongoing implementation of PICK to increase vaccine coverage and achieve its target for recovery,” he said during a joint press conference with Khairy.

The vaccine allocation to Malaysia is part of the Biden administration’s global strategy to share 80 million doses worldwide this summer.

Khairy expressed Malaysia’s appreciation to the US government for the contribution.

He said Malaysia hoped to continue working with US and other countries to secure access to more vaccine.