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Kuala Lumpur: The second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine would be given 21 days after the first one, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

“So we will give 21 days apart, not any later than that. Unless there is a new clinical data," he told reporters after launching the Malaysia Grand Challenge here today.

He was commenting on a warning by German firm BioNTech, which developed the vaccine with US giant Pfizer, that there is no data backing the “safety and efficacy” of delaying the second shot of its COVID-19 vaccine beyond three weeks, as some countries push back the jab to give more people their first dose.

Meanwhile, he said the government is still in discussion with Russia to procure its COVID-19 vaccine and for the proposed transfer of technology in enhancing the country's capacity in vaccine production.

"We are looking at Russia's proposal because it adds value to our pharmaceutical capabilities," he said.