Eligible malls to turn into PPVs for tenants, retail frontliners

 

Shopping malls have been offered the option to set-up vaccination centres on their premises for all eligible tenants and workers, provided they meet the requirements set by the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF).

When contacted, the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association said it has reached out to its members with the offer to participate in an upcoming Economic Frontliners Vaccination Programme.

“We have asked our members who are able to do it because not all members have the capacity.

“The principal objective is to vaccinate the retail frontliners,” said an association representative.

The representative said the programme is currently in the initial stages and eligible members are in the process of reaching out to their own tenants, before getting the final approval from CITF.

It is understood that the requirements include having enough space to accommodate the vaccination process and other supporting facilities.

Malaysiakini sighted a letter dated June 1 from a mall operator to tenants in its three premises.

According to the letter from IOI Malls, tenants and their workers at IOI City Mall, Seri Kembangan, IOI Mall Puchong and IOI Mall, Kulai, Johor, can register their interest to be vaccinated under the programme, which is expected to launch by the end of this month (June).

An IOI City Mall representative confirmed the letter shared with Malaysiakini is legitimate and was issued in response to the association’s offer.

The representative also said it would have a clearer picture on the number of eligible participants after the registration has closed.

Malaysiakini also sighted a letter from the management of Suria KLCC to its tenants and their workers with a similar offer to be vaccinated under the programme.

Eligible participants are given until noon tomorrow (June 2) to register and they comprise tenants and workers, including foreign workers, who have yet to be vaccinated or a confirmed appointment date under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).

Unlike the current NIP, which is free, each individual approved for vaccination would be charged a nominal fee of RM50 for the two required doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Sinovac vaccine, said the letter from IOI Malls senior general manager Chris Chong.

It stated the fee comprised a vaccine administering cost of RM15 per dose, and RM10 to defray the logistic expenses per dose, charged to cover related costs as well as to secure commitment from the participant.

Operations of shopping malls under the current “total lockdown” have been restricted to only individual tenants listed as essential services, including food and beverage, supermarkets, pharmacies and pet care outlets.

Last Friday, The New Straits Times quoted Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi as saying more than 500,000 retail workers would benefit from the economic frontliners vaccination programme.

Aside from the malls association, Alexander cited an ongoing collaboration with the Malaysia Retailers’ Association and Malaysia Retail Chain Association to set-up vaccination centres at strategic locations nationwide. - Mkini