PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has chosen to be among the first to receive the Covid-19 vaccine to create greater public confidence that the vaccine is safe, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said despite the vaccine having been given to more than 100 million people worldwide, there are still those who have doubts and concerns over its safety and efficacy.

“By being among the first to be vaccinated, the Prime Minister hopes it will boost public confidence.

“If the head of the government has taken the vaccine and has no serious side effects, we hope this will encourage people not to shy away from being inoculated, ” he said at a press conference on Wednesday (Feb 17).

Khairy explained that the Prime Minister, whose job also requires him to meet and be in contact with people every day, is exposed to being infected with the coronavirus.

He also said that Muhyiddin had discussed his plan to be vaccinated with his personal doctors.

“I asked the Prime Minister to discuss it with his doctors and they have given him the green light to get vaccinated," said Khairy.

The minister said Muhyiddin had shared with the Cabinet on Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s experience of being vaccinated.

Widodo had reportedly told the Prime Minister that he only felt a little tired.

“So the Prime Minister is expected to feel that kind of side effect, ” he said.

The Government had announced that the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine would arrive in the country on Feb 26 and that Muhyiddin would be the first person in the country to receive the vaccine.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/02/17/covid-19-pm-chose-to-be-among-first-ones-vaccinated-to-assure-public-it-is-safe-says-khairy