Teluk Intan vax centre to improve processes after queue-jumping claims

 

The Dewan Bandaran Teluk Intan vaccine administration centre (PPV) will improve its procedures following allegations of ‘queue jumping’ yesterday.

Following an investigation into allegations that had gone viral on social media platforms, Perak Health Department director Dr Ding Lay Ming said two cases of non-compliance with procedures have been found at the PPV.

“The PPV management will improve processes for checking ascertaining the eligibility of vaccine recipients based on set criteria.

“The management has also set up a counter for those who missed their appointments to get a new date.

“The Perak Health Department regrets the incident and will conduct close monitoring and supervision of all public PPVs to ensure the National Covid-19 Immunisation Program (NIP) is implemented in accordance with procedures and criteria determined by the Special Committee for Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply,” she said in a statement last night.

According to Ding, the first case involved a student who has been told to return to a university abroad to continue the student’s studies, and has applied to get vaccinated earlier.

However, the PPV had allowed the student to enter without first getting an appointment through MySejahtera like other Phase Two vaccine recipients. She did not say whether the student managed to get vaccinated.

The current Phase Two of the NIP prioritises senior citizens, people with disabilities or comorbidities, and frontliners who haven’t be vaccinated in Phase One.

No detailed checks

In the second case, Ding said a person had sought to be vaccinated sooner but the PPV administered the vaccine without detailed checks on the person’s justifications.

She urged members to the public with further complaints about PPVs in Perak to contact the Perak Health Department via email at bgvac19prk@gmail.com or by phone at 05-2410252/05-2410107.

Earlier yesterday, Malaysiakini reported a netizen’s claims that youths were on a list alongside senior citizens to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at the Dewan Bandaran Teluk Intan PPV to get vaccinated.

The netizen under the Twitter handle @JetsamCadillac also showed pictures of youths waiting alongside senior citizens at the PPV and alleged a doctor had “slipped in” the names of people who were not meant to be vaccinated yet into yesterday’s list.

He added that this was not the first time it had been done. - Mkini