Free flu jab: DAP senator claims those below 60 slipping through cracks

Summary

• Senator Dr A Lingeshwaran alleges that there are those below the age of 60 who managed to get free flu vaccination from public health facilities.

• He claims the problem is due to MySejahtera not doing automatic vetting for eligible applicants.

• Lingeshwaran says the problem is causing problems for doctors and health workers.

Dewan Negara member Dr A Lingeshwaran alleged there are those below the age of 60 who managed to get free flu vaccination from public health facilities.

He made the claim during his speech at the upper house of the Parliament yesterday.

“The programme has issues which need to be dealt with as soon as possible.

“From what I understand, the free programme was supposed to benefit over 170,000 senior citizens who have comorbidities.

“However, from the feedback I received on the ground, I received complaints that those without comorbidities and even those below the age of 60 are getting the free flu shots,” Lingeshwaran claimed.

The Health Ministry announced the programme on Feb 10, where senior citizens aged 60 and above with at least one listed chronic illness can receive the influenza vaccine for free starting Feb 18.

The voluntary vaccination programme is available to those suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, respiratory diseases, heart disease, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and chronic kidney disease.

“Those eligible for vaccination can schedule appointments through the MySejahtera app from Feb 14, but availability will depend on the phased distribution of vaccines across the country,” it said in a statement.

The minister added that it was aimed at protecting high-risk populations from severe complications due to influenza, which can lead to hospitalisation or even death, the initiative is expected to benefit more than 170,000 senior citizens.

‘Why not automatic vetting?’

On that note, Lingeshwaran claimed the problem starts when the potential vaccine recipients register themselves using the MySejahtera application.

According to the DAP senator, the errant recipients declare themselves as patients with comorbidities to enable them to get free vaccinations.

This, he added, has resulted in those truly eligible being left out of the programme.

“Why isn’t the MySejahtera application not screening applicants automatically to ensure their eligibility?

“Now, doctors and health workers are facing pressure in the field, having to argue with those unqualified who won’t take no for an answer.

“This is disrupting their work and resulting in those really eligible not getting the vaccinations,” Lingeshwaran added.

Lingeshwaran further urged the Health Ministry on why it only allocated 170,000 doses for the free vaccination programme, urging the government to state how much per dose costs.

“Is this figure based on data and science? Did we even provide enough doses?” he asked.

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