NGOs urge govt not to discriminate against unvaccinated people
A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) led by the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) are demanding the government to stop what they believe are discriminatory practices against unvaccinated people.
The group claimed the government is imposing an indirect form of mandatory Covid-19 vaccination and also questioned the vaccines.
“The current policy of the government encourages discrimination within our society which causes injustice to those who are not vaccinated...
“Creates medical, social, and legal apartheid...
A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) led by the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) are demanding the government to stop what they believe are discriminatory practices against unvaccinated people.
The group claimed the government is imposing an indirect form of mandatory Covid-19 vaccination and also questioned the vaccines.
“The current policy of the government encourages discrimination within our society which causes injustice to those who are not vaccinated...
“Creates medical, social, and legal apartheid between those who have taken the ‘experimental gene therapy and/or new experimental vaccine’ and those who have not,” the group said in a memorandum.
The group said it plans to submit the memorandum to the government.
The group believes the Covid-19 vaccines should be called “experimental gene therapy” or “new experimental vaccine”, claiming the vaccines have yet to be approved by the relevant authorities worldwide.
For the record, Malaysia's National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and the country's Drug Control Authority both have approved seven Covid-19 vaccines for use in Malaysia.
The approval is on the condition that vaccine manufacturers provide updated data to the NPRA as it becomes available.
Additionally, six of the vaccines have obtained emergency-use listing from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
A WHO committee is also studying the CanSino Biologics vaccine for a potential emergency-use listing as well.
The measures are to ensure the vaccines are made available as soon as possible to address the ongoing health crisis, while maintaining high standards of safety, efficacy, and quality control.
None of the approved vaccines modify the human genome or otherwise constitute “gene therapy”, according to fact-checks conducted by Reuters, the Australian Associated Press, Politifact, and other agencies with the help of health experts.
Each vaccine has also been tested on tens of thousands of volunteers before being approved for the general population.
‘Violation of human rights’
Meanwhile, the NGOs accused the government of supposedly failing to uphold its previous commitment that Covid-19 vaccination is voluntary.
It demanded the government review the requirement for people to be fully vaccinated to enter various locations, as they believed such restrictions violated peoples’ constitutional and human rights.
“All undertakings of government ministries, employers, and businesses are now seen to impose the two-dose vaccination as a prerequisite before entry to places of work, worship, schools, and so on.
“The government policy to mandate the experimental gene therapy and/or new experimental vaccine has led to enormous mental pressure and duress to the rakyat for fear of losing their jobs, being unable to attend school and university, and entering places of worship,” the group added.
It also asked the government to postpone vaccination for children and pregnant women.
‘We’re not anti-vaxxers’
During the press conference held by PPIM and others today, the group claimed they are not against the Covid-19 vaccines and were merely conveying people's concern about the vaccines.
“Many are calling us anti-vax but we are actually just representing consumers out there to bring the issues which we thought are relevant.
“Even though people say I’m anti-vax, but actually my children and my grandchildren are all vaccinated.
“We’re not bringing anti-vax issues today, we’re bringing pro-science issues,” said PPIM chief activist Nadzim Johan during a virtual press conference today.
However, the group spoke at length about their doubts on the Covid-19 vaccines and their efficacy.
“Whether a person is fully vaccinated like myself or someone who is fully vaccinated, both of us can get the infection, and both of us can spread it to you.
“Both of us are equally dangerous,” said Dr Manimalar Selvi Naicker at the press conference.
The consultant histopathologist and statistician working with the group said there is no scientific basis for vaccine discrimination.
She argued that people who survived Covid-19 have acquired natural immunity, and hence they should be identified as immunised and not forced to get a vaccine.
“There is absolutely no doubt now, scientifically, that natural immunity lasts longer than vaccine-induced immunity,” she claimed.
“I hope the government ensures those of us who had prior infection, our MySejahtera would reflect that.
“So those of us who have got a prior (Covid-19) infection, and don’t want to get the vaccine are given the vaccine passport,” she said.
Previously, studies found that the protection one gets after being infected by Covid-19 can last many months. However, the immune response is not as consistent as what one gets from vaccination.
One study in the US found that unvaccinated people who were previously infected by Covid-19 still had 2.34 times higher risk of a new infection compared to fully vaccinated people.
Alternative treatment
The group in its memorandum also cited various reasons to doubt vaccines, including the transmission of the virus after vaccination and alleged deaths linked to vaccine side-effects.
The group also urged the government to adopt “alternative treatments” for Covid-19 such as ivermectin.
They claimed the use of the drug is what caused Covid-19 cases to fall in certain countries.
“I urged the leadership up there to open up more choices for people.
“I’ll give you an example in Haryana, India. The infection rate is low because they are using ivermectin,” said Mohd Fakhrunizam Ibrahim, the CEO of Anti-Discrimination and Wrongdoing Organisation, during the press conference.
Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug that is currently licensed only for veterinary use in Malaysia.
Although some low-quality studies have suggested a benefit of using ivermectin to treat or prevent Covid-19, subsequent higher-quality studies have failed to find any discernable benefit.
Additionally, a major paper purporting to show the benefits of ivermectin has been retracted following allegations of fraud and data manipulation.
Thus far, it is recommended that only Covid-19 patients participating in clinical trials to test the drug’s efficacy should receive ivermectin.
The Health Ministry is also conducting its own study that is expected to report results this month.
Nevertheless, despite the advice of health experts and authorities, some have obtained ivermectin on their own, believing that the drug could help. This has led to several cases of poisoning.
As for allegations of death following Covid-19 immunisation, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said none of those deaths were found to have been caused by the vaccine, while serious adverse events following vaccination were extremely rare.
Emotions flare during Q&A session
Meanwhile, at the press conference, a person identifying herself as a teacher broke down during the question-and-answer session.
“I was very disturbed by the statement of Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday when he said he will force all teachers and civil servants to vaccinate.
“I don’t know what I will have to do, who I’ll have to reach out if I’m forced to take the vaccine,” she said between sobs.
The group responded by saying they are prepared to provide legal assistance to those who are seeking to take action against the government over vaccine requirements.
Yesterday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was reported saying the ministry will track and locate unvaccinated individuals and determined if they are yet to be vaccinated or against the vaccine.
He said the country has reached a point where the Covid-19 vaccine supply has exceeded the number of recipients waiting for their jab.
Education Minister Radzi Jidin earlier said he was in discussions with the Public Service Commission on action that may be taken against teachers who refuse to be vaccinated.
Actions include reassignment to other duties that do not require face-to-face interaction with students.
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.