PUTRAJAYA, April 26 — The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and it will be administered to senior citizens, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
“I wish to confirm that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe for use and it is effective. We will give it to those aged 60 and above, the most suitable group,” he told a weekly press conference on COVID-19 here today.
He said the vaccine would be used in phase two of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programe which began on April 19, covering senior citizens, persons with disabilities and those with comorbidities.
On Saturday, Dr Adham said Malaysia received its first batch of 268,800 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the global COVAX facility.
Also present at the press conference were Health deputy director-general (Research and Technical Support) Datuk Dr Hishamshah Mohd Ibrahim, Health deputy director-general (Public Health) Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong and director of Clinical Research Institute, National Institute of Health (NIH) Dr Kalaiarasu M. Peariasamy.
