Muhyiddin: “Once Available, Asean Must Ensure Covid-19 Vaccine Affordable, Accessible To All”

Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia

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Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has said that once the Covid-19 vaccine is available, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) must ensure that it is affordable, accessible, and equitably shared for all.

Speaking from Putrajaya, Muhyiddin said this at the 36th Asean Summit, which was held online and hosted by Vietnam.

While progress on the development of a vaccine and anti-viral medicine has been encouraging, we must ensure that when the time comes ― the vaccine must be affordable, accessible, and equitably shared for all.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin via Malay Mail

The latest tally from yesterday shows that over 138,000 cases of Covid-19 and more than 4,000 deaths have been reported in Asean.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin speaking during the virtual summit. (Credit: Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia)

Expressing his appreciation towards this initiative taken by Vietnam, as Asean Chair, in convening the summit via video-conferencing in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Muhyiddin said that as Asean endeavours to protect its populations against the serious threat of Covid-19, a vaccine is sorely needed.

This truly is a historic moment for us in Asean. Our deliberations today bear testament to Asean’s resolve in building a cohesive and responsive community, in line with the theme of Vietnam’s chairmanship.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin via Malay Mail

He said that Malaysia is confident with Vietnam’s leadership, believing that Asean will achieve significant outcomes in 2020 despite the global effect of Covid-19, adding that since Asean was founded more than half a century ago, it has enabled the region to grow, prosper, and engage with the world.

It is now, more than ever, we need to show the world which is full of hate and divide, full of tears and suffering, that the Asean way ― which is far more than just leaders holding hands in photos ― does work.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin via Malay Mail

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