This Chinese Covid-19 Vaccine Will Be First To Undergo Final Stage Trial In Malaysia

If successful, the vaccine will be exclusively distributed in Malaysia over a three-year period.

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Malaysia’s endeavour with the Covid-19 vaccine marks another milestone as MyEG signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical to conduct phase 3 clinical trials of Zhifei’s Covid-19 vaccine in Malaysia.

Zhifei is currently one of the five Chinese companies conducting phase 3 clinical trials of the Covid-19 vaccine in various parts of the world.

In a statement released today, MyEG explained that it will assist the Chinese biopharma company in obtaining the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) halal certification for its Covid-19 vaccine that will be exclusively distributed in Malaysia for a three-year period.

MyEG also explained that this Phase 3 trial will make Zhifei’s Covid-19 vaccine one of the first to undergo this final stage trial in Malaysia under the supervision of the Health Ministry.

In return, Zhifei will provide the necessary materials, guidance and investigational vaccines for the final stage trial in Malaysia.

The Chinese company will also provide materials for both emergency and official use of the Covid-19 vaccine in Malaysia, as well as clinical data reports and World Health Organization (WHO) certification.

Upon successful completion of the Phase 3 trials, MyEG will be the sole distributor of the vaccine in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccine plans

In November, the government signed an agreement with Pfizer – an international pharmaceutical company – to get 12.8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine for Malaysians beginning January 2021.

It is reported that the Pfizer vaccine is enough for 6.4 million Malaysians or around 20% of the population – which plays into the government’s plan to vaccinate 60% of the population, while the rest will be protected via herd immunity.

Children and teens aged 18 years and below, as well as individuals with immune system disorders will not be given the Covid-19 vaccine.

Amidst allegations that Malaysians are being used as “lab rats” for vaccine trials, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah explained that Malaysia’s Public Covid-19 Vaccine Programme is based on the “Five P” framework:

Registration (Pendaftaran)
Supply (Pembekalan)
Distribution (Pemberian)
Monitoring (Pemantauan)
Evaluation (Penilaian)

Dr Noor Hisham assured that the Covid-19 vaccines, as well as all medications, need to go through a stringent vetting process before being approved for the rest of the human population.

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