“The Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses a one-dose method and thus makes it very attractive to use,” he told reporters after receiving a donation of 2.7 million low dead-volume syringes worth RM891,000 from Etiqa Family Takaful Bhd at his ministry here today.

Yesterday, science, technology and innovation minister Khairy Jamaluddin had announced that the government will sign a Covid-19 vaccine procurement contract with Johnson & Johnson from the US soon.

He said that so far, the clinical information on this vaccine has been positive and based on the recommendation of the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV), the Cabinet decided to purchase the vaccine.

Adham and Khairy are the co-chairmen of JKJAV.

Commenting further on the vaccine, Adham said the government had not yet determined the number of doses to be obtained from Johnson & Johnson.

Meanwhile, he said all the syringes received today would be used in the first phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme which will start on Feb 26 involving about 500,000 frontline workers.

“This contribution can at least help the Malaysian government’s efforts in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in the country as well as being a good example to corporate companies,” he said.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday announced that Malaysia would receive its first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday while the roll-out of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme would begin in phases from Feb 26.

Muhyiddin said that he would receive the shot on the first day of the programme, together with frontliners.

The first phase of the programme, which is until April, will involve frontliners, followed by the second phase, which is from April until August, for high-risk groups.

The third phase involves adults aged 18 and above and will be from May this year until February next year.