KUALA LUMPUR (July 16): Malaysia has granted conditional registration approval for the use of the Sinopharm and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Covid-19 vaccines to curb the spread of the pandemic, according to Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. 

Dr Noor Hisham said in a statement today the conditional registration approval, which was decided during the country’s Drug Control Authority meeting today, requires details on the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccines to be monitored and evaluated based on updated data from time to time.

He said this is to ensure the "benefit over risk" comparison of the vaccines "remain positive".

According to Dr Noor Hisham, the Sinopharm vaccine, which is also known as the COVILO Suspension for Injection COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated, was developed by China National Biotec Group Company Ltd and manufactured by Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd.

He said Malaysia’s conditional registration approval for the use of the Sinopharm vaccine has been given to Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd.

On Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Covid-19 vaccine, Dr Noor Hisham said the vaccine, which is also known as Janssen Covid-19 Vaccine Suspension for Injection, is manufactured by Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceutica NV.

He said Malaysia’s conditional registration approval for the use of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Covid-19 vaccine has been given to Johnson & Johnson Sdn Bhd.