PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia can look towards producing quality and safe vaccines with three initiatives ready for take-off, including the development of two Covid-19 vaccines, says the Prime Minister.

       Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the other two vaccine initiatives were for cholera, and a pre-clinical evaluation for a first-of-its-kind therapeutic cancer vaccine for head and neck cancer.

       With the National Vaccine Development Plan in place, he said the country could position itself as a vaccine manufacturing hub and with this, create greater confidence on vaccine usage.

       For greater economic, social and technological impact, the Malaysian Genome and Vaccine Institute has been set up to look into vaccine development, he revealed.

       “We believe with the plan and institute in place, it can contribute to economic stability as we reduce our dependence on foreign vaccine supply and its substantial cost.

       “These efforts will further boost Malaysia’s readiness in facing future pandemics.

       “The government is committed to preparing our health sector for such eventualities,” he said at the joint launching of the National Vaccine Development Plan and the Malaysian Genome and Vaccine Institute yesterday.

       In 2020, Malaysia’s import of pharmaceutical products stood at US$1.94bil (RM8.05bil).

       Vaccines were among the top five imported purchases, with Covid-19 vaccines alone costing RM4.3bil.

       On the development of the two Covid-19 vaccines, Ismail Sabri said that inactivated virus and mRNA were used by the Institute of Medical Research, with focus given to vaccines for variants of concern found in Malaysia.

       The cholera vaccine is being developed jointly by Universiti Sains Malaysia and Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology with RM10.5mil in financial support.

       “We are proud to be the first country in the world to produce a vaccine for head and neck cancer.

       “This shows that we have the ability to produce and commercialise our own vaccines,” he said.

       Cancer Research Malaysia will be starting clinical tests for the vaccine in the United Kingdom beginning February, and it is expected to be ready in 2024.

       Ismail Sabri said that to reduce import dependency, Malaysia would need to produce more creators of technology, which was why 50% of the government’s research fund would be for experimental development and pre-commercialisation activities especially for high potential innovations.

       At a press conference later, the Prime Minister said that experts whose services ended with retirement would be given a five-year contract to pursue their research.

       The contract is for experts working on critical and essential fields such as vaccine development and for their work to be marketed internationally.

       “We want to ensure they can continue with their important research which will benefit the country. While on contract, they are to act as mentors,” he said.