Malaysia received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines on Sunday, boosting its capability in the fight against the pandemic.

Some 312,390 doses of the vaccine, jointly developed by U.S. pharmaceutical firm Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech SE., arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and were greeted by Malaysian officials.

In a press briefing following the delivery, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the first phase of the national immunization program will kick start soon, ahead of schedule with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin set to be the first to be vaccinated.

Khairy Jamaluddin added that the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccines are set to arrive on Feburary 27, with other vaccines scheduled to arrive later.