While the science, technology and innovation minister said the cost of the six types of Covid-19 vaccines Malaysia was expected to receive fell under non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with their respective manufacturers, he was willing to brief the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) if it could accept the NDA’s terms.
Among those who have highlighted concerns about the vaccine’s cost are DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, who claimed Malaysia would be paying 20 times the price that Belgium was paying for Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, and Umno’s Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who said Malaysia’s vaccine deal with Pfizer cost RM3 billion.
Khairy has denied both claims.
“I urge all parties, be they MPs from the government, opposition or even the people, to leave it to the PAC. Let me brief them,” said Khairy at a press conference here today.
“If this goes on, I am worried it will affect people’s trust about receiving the vaccine … It will cause vaccine hesitancy.
“They are already worried about safety, efficacy … And now there is doubt about the cost.”
Asked if he was worried about the PAC violating the NDA, Khairy said he wanted to be as “transparent as possible”.
Noting that the issue of cost had been repeatedly raised and was now a viral topic on social media, Khairy said the country had “no problem” disclosing the terms of the contracts with the pharmaceutical companies but had to comply with the NDA.
“It’s not just Malaysia, each government is bound by this NDA,” he said.
“This is their condition, not ours. If it is up to the Malaysian government, we will announce. We have no problem announcing. But I have to respect the NDA and its terms … Because what is important is that we get the vaccine for our people.”
Healthcare professionals have previously spoken out about the lack of transparency surrounding Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine indemnity clause and the prerequisite that the company be granted legal indemnity to protect it from being sued due to any unforeseen complications from the vaccine.
Pfizer has settled US$4.7 billion in penalties or damages in 34 settlements over the past three decades until 2017, and its US$2.3 billion settlement with the US Department of Justice to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products was the largest healthcare fraud settlement in the department’s history at the time.
The UK and US government have both said they would assume liability for any negative side effects of the Pfizer vaccine, an issue which Khairy said he was unable to comment on as yet.
“We are working out the liability issue,” he said when asked whether the Malaysian government would assume liability for any negative side effects of the vaccines.
“We will announce that when we announce the National Vaccination Programme (in January).”
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