KUALA LUMPUR: Recipients inoculated with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from tomorrow will be financially covered should they experience any side effects.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the vaccine, offered via opt-in voluntary basis under the National Immunisation Programme (NIP), would see the first batch of 268,800 doses to be administered for free to Malaysians and foreigners here.
"Despite being offered to those who volunteer, overall, it is still under BIP. Yes, AZ inoculation is covered under the Covid-19 Vaccine Fund.
"It is free for residents as it is part of NIP," he tweeted via his Twitter handle @ khairykj.
Open to those aged 18 and above in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, the inoculation would take place at designated special vaccination centre, namely, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur; Ideal Convention Centre Shah Alam; Dewan 1, Bangunan Peperiksaan, Universiti Malaya; and Dewan Gemilang, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba had said the assistance comprises two categories, namely RM50,000 for recipients who received serious side effects and RM500,000 in the event of permanent disability or death due to the Covid-19 vaccine.
He was reported as saying that the government agreed to provide a start-up fund of RM10 million under the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund managed by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to pay special financial assistance for the harmful effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.
