By Khairul Azran Hussin
SHAH ALAM, Feb 18 — The Selangor government will be negotiating directly with Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers to get the supplies without the use of middlemen.
Its Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the state administration has yet to make a final decision on which manufacturer will be selected to supply the Covid-19 vaccine for the people of Selangor.
“Further developments on which company will be selected will be informed later as we have to look into every aspect before coming to a conclusion.
“Efforts to obtain the vaccine is to protect the community as well as the state’s economic sector,” said Amirudin when met after a mock cheque handover ceremony of the Food Basket Aid Fund at his official residence, here today.
He said the state government will also be meeting with Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin next week to discuss the number of vaccines that will be distributed to Selangor.
On January 11, Amirudin had stated that the state government will buy between three to five million Covid-19 vaccine doses in its efforts to curb the coronavirus infection within the community.
The state immunisation programme would complement the Federal government’s national vaccination plan to ensure that herd immunity is achieved.
The move by the state administration is welcomed by the Health Ministry as it would be able to ease the burden of Putrajaya’s vaccine distribution plan.
