PUTRAJAYA: A total of three projects - including two Covid-19 vaccines - are ready to be undertaken through the National Vaccine Development Plan, says the Prime Minister.

       Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said having the plan in place as well as the upgrading of the Malaysia Genome & Vaccine Institute (MGVI) will also allow the development of vaccines for cholera through a joint collaboration between several institutes and agencies.

       He added that a pre-clinical evaluation of a therapeutic cancer vaccine for head and neck cancer treatment can also be carried out.

       Ismail Sabri then said that all the strategies will be carried out in stages according to the plan’s framework.

       "Malaysia can now take the initiative to produce our own quality vaccines that are effective and safe," said Ismail Sabri.

       He added that this will make Malaysia a vaccine producing hub and boost confidence in vaccine usage.

       Ismail Sabri said this at the launch of the National Vaccine Development Plan and the MGVI on Monday (Nov 1).

       Also present were Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

       On the plan itself, Ismail Sabri said the nation must always be prepared to face pandemics in the future and the government is committed to boosting Malaysia's preparedness in the health sector, especially in vaccine production.

       “By strengthening our health security, we will be able to reduce our dependency on vaccine producing nations,” he said.

       Ismail Sabri said the government will also explore more research and development activities to create new technologies, adding that to realise this, the government will ensure that 50% of the government’s research fund be set aside for experimental development.

       “This is to ensure that all development, research, commercialisation and innovation activities are in line with the priorities and needs of the nation,” he said.

       Malaysia’s pharmaceutical product import was worth US$1.94bil (RM8.04bil) in 2020, where one of the top five import items - amounting to RM4.3bil - was for Covid-19 vaccines.

       Ismail Sabri said that with the plan in place and the setting up of an institute dedicated to genome and vaccine development, Malaysia can look forward to having a highly skilled workforce in the health sector, especially to carry out research work.