Privacy concerns raised after more vaccine recipients get unsolicited texts
UPDATED 10PM: Included responses from JKJAV and ProtectHealth on actions taken against breaches of privacy.
More women have come forward to say they received unsolicited text messages from personnel working at vaccine administration centres (PPV).
They raised concerns over how personal information like mobile phone numbers are stored under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).
In response, the Special Committee for Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) said it has taken action against one of the PPV personnel identified.
However, it...
UPDATED 10PM: Included responses from JKJAV and ProtectHealth on actions taken against breaches of privacy.
More women have come forward to say they received unsolicited text messages from personnel working at vaccine administration centres (PPV).
They raised concerns over how personal information like mobile phone numbers are stored under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).
In response, the Special Committee for Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) said it has taken action against one of the PPV personnel identified.
However, it did not address how the person in question got a hold of their contact numbers or how many were potentially affected by this privacy breach.
This is not the first time such incidents have been reported.
Last month, a woman tweeted saying a PPV doctor who had consulted her on her vaccine jab later sent her unsolicited texts.
When contacted, Health Ministry government-linked company (GLC) ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd - which oversees medical personnel at PPVs - told Malaysiakini that the doctor in question was “removed” following an investigation.
More women come forward
Ayu Syazreen Azmin said she was scheduled for her vaccine jab at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Shah Alam, Selangor on May 31.
When she showed up on the day to register, a man at the registration counter began asking her questions and making comments that were unrelated to Covid-19 vaccination.
“I then told him I was married,” the 22-year-old told Malaysiakini.
Ayu explained that she had lied about her marital status in an attempt to shut down his advances.
However, she was shocked when he messaged her personal mobile number later that day.
“Hopefully, they will do something,” she said, referring to the authorities.
Another woman tweeted that she was also contacted by the same man after her vaccine appointment at the IDCC PPV.
“Hello JKJAV, (the) same thing happened to be at IDCC Shah Alam.
“It is very unprofessional to steal my number through the data without my consent!
“I hope disciplinary action will be taken too. No one should go through this,” she said.
Siblings express dismay
Twitter user Idris similarly urged JKJAV to act after his 18-year-old sister was contacted by a World Trade Centre (WTC) PPV personnel after her July 13 jab.
He expressed regret that his sister’s phone number was used without her consent.
“The authorities should know about this and punish violations of privacy.
“Women should not have to face these kinds of unwanted advances,” he tweeted.
Another person chimed in to say that their sister was also contacted by the same man from the WTC PPV.
“Same thing happened to my sister! It’s the same guy!
“Please take disciplinary action. He took advantage by escorting those who (were) lost, then (would) ask them to check (their phone) for their second dose of the vaccine and he gets their phone number,” the person tweeted.
The Twitter user later elaborated that the man had taken a photograph of their sister’s MySejahtera profile and suspected that was how he obtained her mobile phone number.
JKJAV later responded to Idris saying “disciplinary action” had been taken on the man in question but did not specify what those measures were.
“We take note of this issue.
“The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force would like to inform you that disciplinary action has been taken on the officer by his agency, which has a no-tolerance policy for such reported behaviour,” it tweeted.
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