Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Wednesday (24 Feb) received the first jab of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, being the first in the nation to do so and simultaneously kickstarting the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme.
He received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the Precinct 11 Health Clinic in Putrajaya.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was the next person to receive the vaccine, alongside four other staff members from the Health Ministry.
Prior to receiving the shot, the prime minister was briefed about the vaccine and was required to sign a consent form before proceeding to the vaccine station.
Also present were Health Minister Dr Adham Baba and Coordinating Minister for the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme, Khairy Jamaluddin.
Malaysia received its first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — a total of 312,390 doses — on 21 Feb, while the second batch comprising of 182,520 doses of the same vaccine arrived in the country today, Khairy said.
The programme will involve the immunisation of 80 per cent of the population under three phases, starting with front line workers from February till April.
The second phase is from April to August involving senior citizens aged 65 and above, high-risk groups as well as persons with disabilities, while the third phase from May to February 2022 for adults above the age of 18.