Malaysia is targeting 2028 to produce its first locally manufactured human vaccine, a significant move to reduce reliance on imported supplies and bolster the country’s preparedness for future health emergencies.
The vaccine in question is the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, known as PCV13. It is administered through an injection and protects against 13 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, helping prevent severe illnesses including pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, bloodstream infections, and ear and sinus infections, according to information from the National Cancer Institute.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang said in an interview with The Star published on Saturday, 25th July, that the vaccine is being produced through technology transfer with a company in China and will be locally manufactured by Pharmaniaga Berhad, which already has existing capabilities in sterile manufacturing. He did not name the Chinese firm.
Malaysia currently depends on imported vaccines from the US, Belgium, South Korea, Japan, France, Thailand, India, and Indonesia, spent about US$275.4 million in 2022 on human vaccine imports, according to a World Bank report.
Chang said the initiative aims to increase the country’s preparedness for future health crises, pointing to lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. He told The Star: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines were something very important. But we didn’t have the capability to develop human vaccines, so we had to rely on other countries.” Chang added: “When you rely on other countries, they will decide when to deliver the vaccine to us and they will decide what price they want to sell it to us. So it becomes an issue, especially when a crisis happens.”
The government’s initial target was to develop the vaccine locally by 2030, but Chang indicated it might now be be achieved earlier, by 2028.
Malaysia currently provides the imported PCV13 vaccine free to children born on or after 1st January 2020 at all government health clinics. For adults, the cost of the same vaccine ranges between RM550 and RM650, equivalent to US$134–US$159, according to the Malaysian vaccination education website MyVac.
PCV13’s inclusion in the immunisation schedule has already helped protect young children from pneumococcal disease since its introduction for eligible newborns.
Besides PCV13, Malaysia is also working to develop a hexavalent vaccine for children, combining six vaccines in a single dose to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, and hepatitis B. According to MyVac, the imported version of this vaccine is currently administered to babies at two, three, five, and 18 months of age, and is available free at government health clinics.
The technology transfer agreement for PCV13 supports local filling and production, aligning with national goals to strengthen self-reliance in critical healthcare technologies. Experts note that local production could potentially lower costs over time, improve supply chain security, and enable faster responses to emerging infectious disease threats in the region, reflecting a growing trend among middle-income countries to invest in domestic biopharmaceutical capabilities.
The initiative falls under wider strategies by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry to advance biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturing in Malaysia. While full details on timelines for regulatory approvals and scaling remain under discussion, the 2028 target represents an ambitious yet achievable milestone if technology transfer progresses smoothly. Ongoing collaboration with international partners will be crucial to meet the quality and safety standards required for human vaccines, and the successful localisation of PCV13 could pave the way for further expansion of Malaysia’s vaccine manufacturing capacity in the coming years.
About the Author
