Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni confirms sufficient influenza vaccine supply until February 2026, with new deliveries arriving and price controls in place.
KUALA LUMPUR: The stock of influenza vaccines in the country is expected to be sufficient until February 2026.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said this projection is based on feedback from the product registration holder as of October 24.
He provided the update during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara on Monday.
His reply was in response to Senator Dr A. Lingeshwaran, who inquired about the vaccine stockpile amid a spike in cases and reported shortages in many states.
Lukanisman said checks via the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency’s voluntary reporting system, as of November 18, found no official complaints regarding supply disruptions.
He detailed that as of November 10, the Ministry of Health facilities held 4,044 doses for health workers and 2,881 doses for the elderly.
Seven influenza vaccines containing the inactivated influenza virus type A (H3N2) strains are registered in Malaysia.
These include Vaxigrip, Vaxigrip Tetra, Influvac Tetra, Influvac Suspension for Injection, and three SKYCellflu products.
“Since early this year, Malaysia has imported a total of 2,609,235 doses,” Lukanisman said.
He added that five deliveries totalling 429,130 doses arrived on November 25 and 30, with another shipment expected on December 9.
On price controls for the private market, Lukanisman said the MOH is working with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to prevent exorbitant pricing.
Regarding a potential subsidy programme to ease congestion at health facilities, he said the ministry will consider the best method.
He noted the government will see if allocations under Budget 2026 can ease the burden for those needing vaccination.
Separately, Lukanisman said the MOH is considering expanding the Hospital Services Outsourcing Programme.
The programme is currently used for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services.
“We are thinking of using a similar approach to provide services for ‘allied science’, for example, speech therapy,” he said.
He was replying to a supplementary question on addressing shortages of allied science officers and long patient waiting times.
