No loitering: Taskforce says walk-in vaccinations not allowed

 

The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) has urged members of the public not to loiter outside its vaccine administration centres (PPV) in hopes of getting an unused vaccine dose at the end of the day.

This came as some people resorted to this strategy in hopes of getting vaccinated against Covid-19 earlier if someone doesn’t turn up for their vaccine appointment.

However, the CITF said such walk-in vaccinations are not allowed at any PPV.

“Therefore, the CITF urges members of the public not to go to PPVs without any business and appointment, and not to loiter or wait outside the PPV to get vaccinated without an appointment,” it said in a statement today.

The taskforce said it already developed a mechanism to reallocate unused vaccine doses to avoid wastage and ensure minimal disruption to the PPV’s logistical planning.

“This is also meant to avoid congestion, especially at a time when daily Covid-19 cases are on the rise,” it said.

The CITF explained that PPVs generally have a database of individuals to be contacted by phone or SMS if unused doses are available for reallocation.

They would be asked to confirm their interest in being vaccinated, and whether they can turn up at the PPV on that day.

For PPVs administering the AstraZeneca vaccine, there is already a waiting list booked by people hoping to get the vaccine.

“Those selected on this list would be notified via MySejahtera, SMS, or phone,” it said.

As of yesterday, Malaysia has administered 1,847,659 vaccine doses since the National Covid-19 Immunisation Program kicked off in February.

There are 1,141,502 people (3.3 percent of the population) who have received at least one dose of the vaccines and 706,157 (2.0 percent) of them have received both doses.

The pace of the vaccination program is expected to pick up beginning in July when Malaysia is expected to receive increased vaccine deliveries. - Mkini