Managing trust, expectation key ingredients to NIP - KJ

Managing trust and expectation were the most important factors in ensuring the success of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP), said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

The NIP coordinating minister said without the trust of one another - the government and the people - the largest national vaccination programme would not have been able to administer the Covid-19 vaccine to over 25 million people within nine months.

"The reason why we succeeded ultimately, is because we trusted each other.

"When trust is present, everything will work well. We must build trust via personal accountability," he said during a NIP strategic sharing in Putrajaya today.

At the event, Khairy (above) along with Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Adham Baba shared their experiences in the roll-out of the programme which kicked off on Feb 24.

Initially, Khairy and Adham co-chaired the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) before it was handed over fully to the Health Ministry from Nov 1 onwards.

Earlier, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced only the Health Ministry would be the sole agency to manage all vaccination-related programmes through the NIP, while the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) would focus on research and development to produce Covid-19 vaccines.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Adham Baba

When Muhyiddin Yassin was prime minister, Adham was the health minister while Khairy was the Mosti minister. They switched roles under Ismail Sabri's administration.

Taking responsibility 

Recalling his experience in the earlier days of the pandemic when he was at Mosti, Khairy said most people seemed to have a "trust deficit" issue.

"When the website for AstraZeneca (appointment booking) crashed, I said sorry, I took responsibility and informed that there was an error.

"By taking personal responsibility and accountability, even if they don't trust you, at least the (government) is not running away from the problem.

"It is very important because, without trust, the programme would not have succeeded," he said, adding that by vaccinating top government officials such as Muhyiddin and Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, it had indirectly built confidence in the people to get the jab.

Khairy also expressed his appreciation and admiration to all who were involved in the NIP including the civil servants.

- Bernama