10k migrants get first dose of Covid-19 vaccine on last day of walk-in

Non-Malaysian citizens, including undocumented migrants and refugees, continue to show up in large numbers at Bukit Jalil National Stadium vaccination centre (PPV) since early this morning for their last chance to walk in and receive the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

When contacted, the PPV manager Dr Yunus Tauhid said 10,000 doses were allocated today on the final day of walk-in registrations for non-Malaysian citizens.

"For now, things are under control. We will still allow walk-ins until we run out of vaccine," Yunus told Malaysiakini when contacted at around 3pm.

At the PPV management level, Yunus said there were no decisions made to turn away any non-citizens, even those found to have camped outside the stadium from one night before.

"But if the police found the situation was out of hand, they could decide to ask the people to leave.

"The daily number of doses will change. Yesterday, we had 12,000 doses. We also look at the number of second doses.

"There will be more first doses administered if the number of second dose appointments is not too high," Yunus added.

Walk-in vaccination for the non-citizens was only offered at the Bukit Jalil stadium from Aug 2 until Aug 22, and Yunus said among the problems resolved include language barriers and technological gap.

"There were some who did not even know how to write. We have translators on-site to assist them.

"But overall, the vaccination process for those with appointments were smoother than the walk-ins," he said.

Yunus said non-citizens who opted for the walk-in will receive the location for their second dose appointments via MySejahtera, while those who have yet to be vaccinated can now only do so through registering on the application.

At the same time, Yunus said undocumented migrants and refugees should not fear being arrested as they have been assured a chance to be vaccinated.

The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) earlier today confirmed an end to the walk-in vaccination facility for non-Malaysian citizens at the PPV.

"This step was taken so that the process of vaccinating non-Malaysians, which saw really good response throughout its implementation, can be done in a safer and more comfortable environment," CITF said in a statement.

Walk-ins for all Malaysian citizens in the Klang Valley will be continued but only in 13 PPVs.

Overall, the Special Committee on Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) said a total of 54.3 percent of the country’s adult population, or 12,718,701 individuals, have completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccination as of yesterday. - Mkini