Govt to open second round for AstraZeneca jabs, senior citizens priority
COVID-19 | The government will launch a second round of voluntary immunisation using the AstraZeneca vaccine, with priority given to senior citizens, said Khairy Jamaluddin.
The minister in charge of National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme told reporters today those interested to receive the vaccine can register online starting on May 23.
This time around, the vaccine distribution would also be widened to include three states...
COVID-19 | The government will launch a second round of voluntary immunisation using the AstraZeneca vaccine, with priority given to senior citizens, said Khairy Jamaluddin.
The minister in charge of National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme told reporters today the government would open registration for the next round starting on May 23 until May 26 for senior citizens.
If there are slots still available after the date, registration would be opened to others.
This time around, the vaccine distribution would also be widened to include three states outside the Klang Valley, namely Johor, Sarawak, and Penang due to their status as Covid-19 red zones.
"Following the overwhelming support for AstraZeneca vaccine that we received since it was opened on May 12, the government has decided to again open the opportunity where those interested to receive the jab can book their slots.
"However, due to our concern that highly vulnerable people should be protected, during this second round of AstraZeneca vaccination, senior citizens meaning those aged 60 and above will be given the priority for early access in registration.
"This is an effort to protect them and speed up the second phase of the immunisation programme," Khairy said during a virtual press conference this afternoon.
The second round would involve a total of 1.1 million doses of the vaccine.
Late last month, the government decided that the AstraZeneca vaccine will only be used on a voluntary basis in Malaysia, as certain quarters were worried about its possible side effects regardless of data that shows it is safe.
The first round involved 268,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that have arrived in the country. Slots were opened to volunteers in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, considering the high number of cases there.
It took less than four hours for all the slots to be taken up when online registration was opened on May 2.
Attendance rate about 80 percent
According to Khairy, besides online, registration drives for AstraZeneca would also be done through community outreach programmes at the district health office level.
This means that a quota will be allocated just for offline registration, to facilitate senior citizens who live in the Klang Valley and the three states.
For the remainder of the slots, Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV) said it will prioritise those who are already on the waiting list after not being able to get a spot in the previous round.
To a question posed by a reporter during the presser, Khairy said the rate of attendance for Covid-19 vaccination appointments was at around 80 percent.
He said JKJAV is working to reach out to those who were unable to come for their appointments to reschedule. These include senior citizens who could not make it due to the fasting month.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba told reporters that the immunisation programme would also see the involvement of old folks homes nationwide.
According to their plan, health officials will be visiting the homes to carry out in-situ immunisation jabs on the senior citizens.
As of March 21, Adham added, there are a total of 12 old folks homes that are under the government, 365 private facilities registered, and 101 unregistered ones that they need to handle.
"We have reached them, and so far, from 17,535 residents, almost all of them had agreed to be vaccinated," he said.
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