Malaysia drops AstraZeneca from Covid-19 immunisation plan, offers it on voluntary basis, SE Asia News & Top Stories – The Straits Times

PUTRAJAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Malaysia will be offering the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on a voluntary basis to the general public in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, following concerns about alleged blood clotting in other countries. Science Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Malaysia is taking a proactive measure to drop AstraZeneca from the mainstream vaccination programme. Some European Union members limit the use of the vaccine to specific age groups over alleged clotting side effects. Mr Khairy, the coordinating minister of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, said these vaccines will be given on a “first-come, first-served” basis, after taking into consideration…