PUTRAJAYA, May 17 — Only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is suitable to be given to women who are in their 14th to 33rd week of pregnancy, said Coordinating Minister for the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme Khairy Jamaluddin.
He told a press conference on the development of the National COVID-19 National Immunisation Program, which was held virtually with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, that the other two vaccines, Sinovac and AstraZeneca, are not recommended for pregnant women.
He said the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) would coordinate with the relevant agencies, such as the Health Ministry, for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be given to pregnant women.
Khairy, who is Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, said the pregnant women could also wait to get the vaccination after the birth of their child.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also suitable for nursing mothers, he said, adding that for the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, the safety data is limited and recommendations will be made after consultation.
He said these were the clinical guidelines issued in response to public inquiries on vaccines for pregnant and nursing mothers.
However, they are advised to seek doctors’ advice if they have any doubts, he added.
According to Khairy, 10.18 million individuals have registered to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
He said a total of 1.202 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine, with 733,237 of them having completed both doses.
So far, a total of 1,935,632 doses of the vaccine had been administered, he added.
On the industrial Vaccination Center (PPV), Khairy said the CITF had approved an application by Pharmaniaga to open it as a pilot project.
“CITF approved Pharmaniaga’s application because it is the factory that is involved in the bottling of the Sinovac vaccine. Pharmaniaga buys its own vaccine to be given to its factory workers, ”he said.
Source: BERNAMA