PUTRAJAYA: Pharmaniaga Bhd is allowed to sell its Sinovac vaccine in the open market as it has fulfilled its commitment to the government, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

       He also cleared the air over the perception that the government had pulled Sinovac out of the national immunisation programme.

       “The impression that has been given is that Sinovac is no longer favoured in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme. That is not the case.

       “Pharmaniaga has delivered on all of its commitment to the Federal Government. That was why an announcement was made that Sinovac would slowly be phased out from the national programme,” he said on Friday (July 23).

       Pharmaniaga has supplied 12 million doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to the government and the final batch was supplied on July 21, which was four-and-a-half months earlier than the original contractual schedule.

       Khairy also said on the private sales of Sinovac vaccines, the government had earlier on in the national immunisation programme agreed on this.

       “We have agreed that there will come a time when the Federal Government has enough stock of vaccines, we will open the market so that we can reach our (vaccination) target much faster.

       “A lot of people have been saying why don’t we open the private market for people who are willing to pay.

       “That is why in August, pharmaceutical companies which have access to the supply of vaccines will be able to offer these in the private market,” he said.

       Khairy said the Special Committee on Access Guarantee to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) will meet next week to decide on the guidelines for the private sale of vaccines including the ceiling price, he added.