Almost 20pct of Kelantan seniors didn't turn up for vaccine appointment

 

Almost 20 percent of senior citizens in Kelantan failed to show up after being given a Covid-19 vaccine appointment.

Kelantan Health Department director Zaini Hussin said between April 22 and May 4, a total of 8,106 senior citizens were supposed to receive their Covid-19 vaccines.

"But 1,411 senior citizens did not turn up," he said. That translated to a no-show rate of around 17.4 percent.

"We don't know why they didn't turn up despite registering for the vaccine," he told Malaysiakini.

Zaini expects another 4,164 to get their Covid-19 vaccines by May 7.

He hopes that those who have registered will cooperate and turn up for their vaccine jabs.

Phase 2 of the Covid-19 immunisation plan started on April 19 with a focus on senior citizens, the ill and disabled. In Kelantan, Phase 2 began on April 22.

To date, Kelantan has the second-lowest registration rate for the Covid-19 vaccine after Sabah.

As of May 4, a total of 328,568 people in Kelantan or around 26.70 percent of the state's population have registered for the Covid-19 vaccine.

Sabah's registration stands at 16.10 percent. All other states have at least 30 percent of their population registered for the Covid-19 vaccine.

The Phase 2 vaccination plan, to date, uses the Pfizer-Biontech and Sinovac vaccines.

There is also a parallel opt-in programme using the AstraZeneca vaccine, which carries a rare risk of blood clots.

Those who are willing to bear the low risk of the opt-in programme get fast-tracked vaccination. - Mkini