Another ‘underdosed’ AstraZeneca recipient gets top-up shot

 

A man who received a reduced dose of AstraZeneca vaccine was given a “top-up” after he raised the matter with the authorities.

Danial Abrar Bestari Abrar first went to the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur on May 19 for his jab.

He did not realise he had been given less than the supposed 0.5ml until he read of it happening to someone else.

He then travelled to the vaccine dispensing centre a second time on May 21 and was told to contact the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV) and the Health Ministry’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC).

After some back-and-forth, Danial finally received his top-up dose on the same day.

Sorted. Redosed 😂 thanks @protecthealthco @BPhealthcare for the quick response. https://t.co/b6Y6oH70bM pic.twitter.com/FPpjJBJ535

— Danial Abrar (@dnlabrr) May 21, 2021

His fiance Siti Sarah Saiful Anwar later tweeted that those who believe they received an insufficient AstraZeneca dose can approach the Health Ministry’s ProtectHealth Corporation for redress.

There are three ways to contact the corporation:

Via phone at 03 8687 2525 or 03 8687 2588.

Via email at vaksincovid@protecthealth.com.my.

Via ProtectHealth’s social media platforms on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Hello friends. Danial’s incident has been resolved and his re-dosing appointment has been done. So if anyone experiences the same thing can reach out @protecthealthco or these numbers below. Take care, everyone! Make sure you receive the right amount! pic.twitter.com/opoQXPpYtF

— sarah (@srhnwr) May 21, 2021

Official comment next week

Danial is the third known “underdose” case after Anoogrehan Manoharan and a woman who posted about it on Instagram.

All three received their original AstraZeneca jab at the World Trade Centre on May 19.

It is not known how many people potentially received a reduced dose or how members of the public can check if they received the appropriate dose.

A 0.5ml dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine would fill slightly less than half the length of a 1ml syringe that is typically used for Covid-19 vaccinations.

Those involved in the AstraZeneca rollout include the JKJAV, Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF), ProtectHealth and private healthcare group BP Healthcare.

Anoogrehan Manoharan

When contacted, an aide to JKJAV co-chairperson and CITF coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin said investigations into underdose cases were still underway.

An official statement on the matter is expected early next week.

JKJAV’s other chairperson, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba, has yet to respond to Malaysiakini’s questions on the matter.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who sits on the ProtectHealth board, said to refer to JKJAV or the CITF.

A representative from BP Healthcare, meanwhile, directed Malaysiakini to ProtectHealth and CITF. - Mkini