Military healthcare workers will be the first group to receive the vaccine under the defence ministry, said Ismail, especially those involved in detecting and treating Covid-19 patients, and those assigned to vaccination centres.

“The first phase of vaccinations for the Malaysian armed forces is expected to be completed by April 30.

“The remaining 79,041 officers and personnel will receive the vaccine in the second phase,” Ismail told reporters after he was administered the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine today.

Others involved in the initial stages of the programme include army personnel operating at roadblocks and state or country borders, officers and personnel with duties overseas and staff at the armed forces headquarters.

Staff at the National Task Force headquarters will also be immunised, along with officers and army personnel overseeing Malaysia’s strategic defence assets.

Commenting on receiving the jab at Hospital Angkatan Tentera Tuanku Mizan in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Ismail said it was over before he knew it.

“I was not even aware the vaccination was completed, as I was busy talking to the nurse on duty,” he recalled.

He reminded the public to ignore the spread of fake news, adding that there was no need to worry about the safety of the vaccine as it had passed several clinical trials both locally and overseas.