Conditional approval of single-dose CanSino gets thumbs up from Sarawak govt - The Star Online

KUCHING: Sarawak has welcomed the conditional approval given by the Drug Control Authority (DCA) of Malaysia for the CanSino Covid-19 vaccine to be used in the country.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the single-dose CanSino vaccine was more suitable for the state’s rural and interior areas, where transportation was difficult and expensive.

“I must thank the Health Ministry for making a wise and speedy decision.

“Being single dose, the CanSino vaccine will fit perfectly in our vaccination programme for rural groups.

“Our medical teams will only need to visit them once in their locations, thus cutting down on expenses, travel time and the inconvenience and risks involved,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (June 15).

Uggah also said the state disaster management committee had forwarded a request to the Federal Government for a suitable allocation of the CanSino vaccine as soon as it is available in the country.

“This will expedite our efforts to complete the vaccination programme by August,” he said.

Earlier Tuesday, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the DCA had given conditional approval for the emergency use of the CanSino and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, both of which only require one dose.

It also approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those aged 12 and above.