PUTRAJAYA: Khairy Jamaluddin has called for a stop to the debate on Covid-19 vaccine costs, saying continuing this conversation can lead to vaccine hesitancy among the public.
While the science, technology and innovation minister said the cost of the six types of Covid-19 vaccines Malaysia was expected to receive fell under non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with their respective manufacturers, he was willing to brief the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) if it could accept the NDA’s terms.
Among those who have highlighted concerns about the vaccine’s cost are DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, who claimed Malaysia would be paying 20 times the price that Belgium was paying for Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, and Umno’s Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who said Malaysia’s vaccine deal with Pfizer cost RM3 billion.
Khairy has denied both claims.
“I urge all parties, be they MPs from the government, opposition or even the people, to leave it to the PAC. Let me brief them,” said Khairy at a press conference here today.
“If this goes on, I am worried it will affect people’s trust about receiving the vaccine … It will cause vaccine hesitancy.
“They are already worried about safety, efficacy … And now there is doubt about the cost.” – FMT