The government has announced an initial fund allocation of RM10 million for special financial assistance for Covid-19 vaccine recipients who experience serious side effects after receiving the vaccine under the National Covid-19 Immunization Program.
According to the Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Dr. Adham Baba, the special assistance is divided into two categories, namely special assistance of RM50,000 in the event of serious side effects that require prolonged treatment in hospital and RM500,000 in the event of permanent disability or death due to the Covid-19 vaccine.
Adham added that the fund was under the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund (KWABBN) which is managed by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) for the purpose of special financial assistance for the harmful effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.
"This special assistance is a proactive measure by the government to face the possibility of side effects from the use of Covid-19 vaccine," he said as quoted by Bernama.
Adham said a total of 20 cases of side effects had been recorded as of March 18 but no deaths had been linked to the Covid-19 vaccine.
In the meantime, the government will cancel plans to inject a second dose of Pfizer vaccine to anyone who has received the first dose to speed up the vaccination program.
Meanwhile, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the government was confident Pfizer would be able to supply 32 million doses to Malaysia.
Last week, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin informed that the government would increase the Covid-19 immunization fund to RM5 billion to speed up the vaccination target of 80% of the country's 32 million people by December, compared to February next year.
