Almost impossible to get 'empty shot' of vaccine, says S'gor health director
The Selangor Health Department last night said that it was "almost impossible" for anyone to receive an empty shot of the Covid-19 vaccine when procedures in place are followed.
This came after a vaccine recipient lodged a police report claiming that he was injected with an empty syringe at the Banting Hospital on Tuesday.
The Selangor Health Department last night said that it was "almost impossible" for anyone to receive an empty shot of the Covid-19 vaccine when procedures in place are followed.
This came after a vaccine recipient lodged a police report claiming that he was injected with an empty syringe at the Banting Hospital on Tuesday.
Selangor Health Department director Dr Sha'ari Ngadiman said in a statement that vaccinators are chosen from the department's staff members who have been trained and certified by the department, and at least two staff members are on duty at each vaccination station.
"One of the staff members would act as vaccinator, while the other would be responsible for preparing the vaccine and as a witness during the vaccination process.
"The person who prepares the vaccine would use a special syringe and measure the vaccine to be administered according to the volume that has been determined, before handing the syringe to the vaccinator or by putting it inside a special container nearby. The staff member is also responsible to make sure that there is no empty syringe that has yet to be filled with vaccines placed on the vaccinator trolley.
"Before the shot is given, the vaccinator is responsible to make sure the type of vaccine that would be administered to the recipient (is correct) based on tagging made during registration," he added.
According to Sha'ari, the procedure for injecting the Covid-19 vaccine must also follow the guideline for intramuscular injection.
He explained that after a shot has been administered, the empty syringe must then be disposed of into a special bin that is placed close to the vaccinator.
"With compliance of the stated procedures, it is almost impossible for an empty shot to be given to any recipient," Sha'ari said.
The statement, however, did not address whether procedures have been strictly followed when the vaccine was administered to the complainant.
Given second dose
Yesterday, it was reported that Simon Ng, a resident in Kapar, Klang, had gone to the police claiming that he was given an "empty shot" of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Ng said he only realised the matter after reviewing the video of his Pfizer vaccination process which he recorded on his mobile phone.
He subsequently confronted the vaccinators, who later agreed to give him a second shot on the spot on two conditions - that he cannot take photos or videos of the second jab and delete the recorded footage.
Ng however managed to secretly keep the original video file despite deleting all other evidence of his vaccination process, including those in his photo album, recycle bin and WhatsApp messages, from his mobile phone.
Police had since said that they are investigating the case.
In May, a number of people complained that the AstraZeneca vaccine they received at the World Trade Centre (WTC) in Kuala Lumpur was underdose.
Following this, National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced a new standard operating procedure where the vaccinator needs to show vaccine recipients the syringe to ensure the required dose is given.
Here’s how to check whether you are given the proper dosage of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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