Malaysia doubles Pfizer COVID vaccine order as it locks down anew

Extra 12.2m doses in bag but Kuala Lumpur and 5 states face rule tightening

A medical worker holds a swab sample at a coronavirus testing station in Klang, Malaysia. © Reuters

P PREM KUMAR, Nikkei staff writer

January 11, 2021 16:19 JST

Updated on January 11, 2021 22:04 JST

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia has committed to purchasing an additional 12.2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine -- on top of 12.8 million doses already lined up -- as surging infections force a reintroduction of tight restrictions in some areas.