No Politics In Vaccination Program

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The Covid 19 vaccination has problems. It is lagging to other countries in the region. But, it is not entirely the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Khairy Jamaluddin's fault.

He must be under tremendous pressure to deliver the national vaccination program that he lashed out at Dato Najib for harping on the slow pace vaccination and ignoring his previous explanation.

This is not the first time he had exchanges on vaccination with the former Prime Minister. Najib feel strongly for mass vaccination, but he did not take Khairy’s response any further. Maybe in another occasion.

In the social media, Khairy was told to not blame others. It was him who announced the schedule, targeted vaccination, delay, postphonement, financial limitation, etc. 
One FBer angered by his response goes to the point of brushing him off as incapable of riding a bike and blaming the fall to the JKR Director. Pity Khairy.

Khairy was finally gven a chance to prove his mantle to undertake a significant national level tasking. 
It should be the purview of the Ministry of Health, but Tan Sri Muhyiddin gave the responsibility to Khairy. He was idling in the MOST inherited from Yeo Bee Yin, but split into three Ministries. 
This is the first and highest responsibility of national significance given to him. 
Being criticised by political heavyweights with arguments of not meeting up to on-record promises, it is a setback and not do justice to his political aspiration. Khairy has surpassed the age of 40. 
This is not returning back to old political story of Khairy. It is merely to see from where he is coming from and appreciate the need to respond firmly to Lim Guan Eng and Anwar Ibrahim before it gets out of hand. 


In the midst of Malaysia facing a major crisis of unprecedented preportion, politicking should be put aside and rightly too is partisanship. 
Task based unity government made up of capable crisis managers that transcend partisanship should ideally be the leadership structure for crisis management.

From where it is, the government Khairy is part of, though his political party is not part of the leading coalition, seemed heedless, losing public confidence and a #KerajaanGagal (failed government). 
There is a Malay saying, seekor kerbau membawa lumpur, semuanya habis terpalit (a buffalo carrying mud, all will be dirtied). He need to come out of it unscathed. 
Provocation     


In the video above, admittedly Khairy did a good job to respond to allegations by Anwar and Lim Guan Eng. 
The nasty allegation came from Guan Eng, but is not part of the responding statement. It is provided below:


Understandably, any mortal could lose their cool with provocation to call anyone as criminal and on Penang state to defy Federal regulation. 
Khairy was relatively cool. The only distasteful part was the political undertone as he resorted to reveal and shame non-political characters such as Yong Chee Kong and Dato Vinod Sekhar. 
He should have just pick on the politicians to leave them out. If Yong was a scammer, leave it to law enforcement to investigate. 
Vinod was earnest to seek Khairy for guidance. Khairy did his checking but should have kept his finding outside the political exchanges. 
Vaccine approval

Nevertheless, Khairy gave a good explanation on the difficult process to secure the vaccine. 
As one pharmaceutical executive described, National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority (NPRA) is strict in their evaluation and are taken seriously by industry. This is to ensure that vaccines are safe and efficacious

Someone close to MOH said vaccine companies seeking approval has to be transparent in sharing their clinical results and analysis for NPRA to make their assessment.

One stumbling block to get vaccine approval is the willingness of companies to share their data. There are those with the attitude to question Malaysia's insistence for disclosures.

Yes, Malaysia is not an international player in the global pharmaceutical industry. However, Pfizer and AstraZeneca through their Malaysian offices shared the required data. Both do not appoint local agents.

In cases where the vaccine producer refuse to cooperate, a source close to MOH explained that  local agents would play the role to gather the required data for local authorities to make their assessment.

Khairy understands as he undergone the experience when he first tookover the portfolio and got blamed for a delay

The popular understanding is vaccine acquisition is done through the government. Private health providers are not involved in the Covid 19 efforts and only later are selected clinics allowed to do RT testing.

Opening up

The key takeaway is Khairy willing to allow any state governments or foundations or private organisations to secure vaccines on their own.

This should allay any allegations of monopoly, mark-ups, and kickbacks in vaccine procurement by government. Allegations going around of local agents exhorbitantly marking up prices

It is difficult to ascertain because there is a non-disclosure clause from revealing the cost in vaccine supply agreement.

Moreover, there is a basis to mark-up prices from the batch cost bought from vaccine companies. Local agents with the plant are doing fill and finish. 
It is the first step to local vaccine manufacturing capability. These companies are working on licensing or technology transfer or other arrangements to raise the local capability. 
One setback for non-profit organisation and private healthcare to participate in the vaccination effort is that vaccine companies have to exhaust government request first before supplying to other entities.

If private hospitals are allowed before public health institutions, free market will dictate and it will not be fair for all. Private hospitals could afford to pay and the public sector denied access. 
Donors encouraged   


Those with the means to contribute and genuine to help the people and nation in this challenging and trying times should be encouraged and assisted. 

Authorities should fascilitate instead of putting up barriers and hurdle that not only hinder but discourage donors.

In the recent National Security Council (MKN) meeting, it is heard was agreed that healthcare companies, and employers will be allowed to buy vaccines in order to compliment and speed up vaccination programs.

It is about time.

Till the information is confirmed, philanthropic work should be encouraged. Government need all the help it needs for sake of people and not anyone else. 
It is believed that only 3% in Selangor, the worst hit and most developed state, are vaccinated. MMKN had discussed to increase the pace

Lets even venture to speculate on the sourcing of distributed vaccines. If turned out true, it is more embarassing

Put politics or partisanship aside. Hold back the brickbat and slanders from past association for the right political climate. 
This is a crisis, remember. Getting out of it should be the priority. The people and nation is being dragged for too long.

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