KUALA KUBU BAHARU – The Health Ministry is looking to address concerns over rare side effects linked to the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine by seeking clarification from the pharmaceutical firm.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said that the ministry would request for representatives from AstraZeneca to provide a comprehensive and transparent explanation to the public.
“We intend to engage with AstraZeneca representatives for a detailed explanation, which should be transparently communicated to everyone, including citizens and the media.
“Just as we are accountable, they must be too. There’s no intention to conceal or shield them from scrutiny.
“As a major pharmaceutical company and vaccine manufacturer, they have a responsibility to offer clarification not only to our citizens but also on a global scale,” he told a press conference following a health screening programme at the Tun Abdul Razak Orang Asli village, here this afternoon.
AstraZeneca recently acknowledged in court documents the potential for rare side effects associated with its Covid-19 vaccine.
This acknowledgment may lead to legal compensation claims worth millions of pounds, with 51 cases already filed in the high court, seeking damages estimated at up to £100 million (RM512 million).
The pharmaceutical giant faces lawsuits alleging that its vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, may have caused death and serious injury in dozens of cases.
Dzulkefly also cautioned against jumping to conclusions regarding statements made by AstraZeneca and highlighted the benefits of the vaccine.
According to the Health Ministry, rate of Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT) in Malaysia until March 2024 was 5 cases, which is 0.88 per 1,000,000 doses.
Dzulkefly said it was important to weigh the figures against the benefits of the vaccine.
“I urge everyone to approach this matter logically, evidence-based, and scientifically, considering both its advantages and disadvantages,” Dzulkefly said. – May 2, 2024