MOH Wants More Data Before Deciding To Use China, Russia Covid-19 Vaccine
Both countries have recently patented their vaccines
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Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah wants more data on the vaccines being developed by companies in China and Russia before considering if Malaysia should use them.
Currently, the vaccines are reportedly undergoing its third clinical phase of testing, which involves trials on humans to determine the drug’s effectiveness and side effects.
Dr Noor Hisham explained that the Health Ministry is aware that both countries have recently patented its vaccines, but pointed out no new information has been published yet.
We are waiting for the latest information and once we get them, we will get our experts to study their efficacy. We will definitely invest or use them if the data supports this.
Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah via NST
Separately, Dr Noor Hisham also commented on his recent statement regarding the D614G mutation of the virus that causes Covid-19, explaining that his statement was based on laboratory tests and on-site findings.
We have a fairly short contact with the virus and learn new things about it daily. What is proven now is the lab test showed that high infection rate correlates with the virus mutation.
Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah via NST
He explained that the Health Ministry observed how rapidly the virus spread through the Sivagangga cluster in Kedah, which infected many people in a short period.
He said that the most important factor to note is the necessity of complying with SOPs (standard operating procedures) to ensure that the chain of infection is broken, adding that lab test are also being conducted on samples from the Sala and Tawar clusters to see if these involved D614G as well.
After Dr Noor Hisham shared his views on the D614G mutated Covid-19 virus strain, several foreign experts refuted his findings saying that more research is needed on the strain.
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