Malaysia strives to become vaccine production centre

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. (File photo: Bernama)

Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on November 1 launched the National Vaccine Development Roadmap (PPVN) and Malaysian Genome and Vaccine Institute (MGVI) in an effort to turn the country into a vaccine production hub and boost local confidence in vaccine use.

At the launch ceremony, the PM said that via the PPVN and MGVI, Malaysia could produce its own vaccines that are of quality, effective and safe in accordance with the conditions set by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).

The PPVN implementation and the MGVI establishment can help train highly skilled human capital in various fields of research, especially those related to healthcare and vaccines, he added.

The government leader noted although vaccine R&D and production require heavy investment, such efforts have the potential to bring long-term returns to Malaysia in the form of cost savings in treating diseases and investments by multinational companies in the nation.

Ismail Sabri said the PPVN would not only focus solely on COVID-19 but also cover the development of vaccines for other diseases, including head and neck cancer by the Cancer Research Centre.

He informed that three projects are ready to be implemented through the roadmap./.

VNA