by HARIZAH KAMEL / pic by BLOOMBERG
GENERAL practitioners’ (GPs) involvement in the recent Capacity Surge Operation has contributed to a large portion of the Klang Valley population being vaccinated.
In a joint statement yesterday, the Health Ministry (MoH) and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) said data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia showed that the vaccination of the Klang Valley population has reached 109.6% for first dose recipients while at least 86% had completed the second dose.
“The amount in excess of 100% of the first dose is believed to be due to vaccination of foreign workers and residents outside the Klang Valley who have registered and walked-in to vaccination centres (PPVs) in the Klang Valley.
“As the two ministries that have been tasked to ensure the smooth implementation of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP), we would like to clarify on this matter so as not to be misunderstood by the community,” the ministries said.
They stated that ProtectHealth Corp Sdn Bhd, a company under MoH involved in Phases 2 and 3 of NCIP and tasked with coordinating the involvement of private medical practitioners, has informed that no more appointments will be given to GPs in the Klang Valley for now.
MoH and Mosti said GPs’ participation was temporary and in line with the way NCIP is implemented, namely by working to ensure that a high rate of vaccination is achieved as soon as possible. This vaccination rate will then decrease gradually as more people would have received their vaccine jabs.
Both ministries also acknowledged that random surveys have shown that there were still many in the Klang Valley who have yet to be vaccinated, as well as new registrations for NCIP which are still being processed in MySejahtera.
For the record, most of these new registrations are from foreigners, hence the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force needs to ensure that appropriate measures are taken for the smooth running of NCIP.
Among them is to emphasise on efficient logistical and operational arrangements as well as the requirement of PPVs for foreigners such as signages in various languages, translators and staff who are more experienced in handling foreigners.
Meanwhile, the involvement of GPs in other states is running as usual for the time being.
For future, requirements such as booster doses, adolescent vaccination for those aged 12 to 17, as well as continuous vaccination for new registrants will be handled by MoH.
“These operations require careful discussion, including experts’ views, before policies are formulated.
“Therefore, we would like to call on GPs, especially in the Klang Valley to remain steadfast with us in making NCIP a success.
“We believe that if the alliance we have witnessed so far continues to be strengthened, the fight against Covid-19 will surely result in a success for the sake of the country,” the statement said.
GP involvement in the NCIP started in May this year, coordinated by ProtectHealth. To date, 1,688 out of approximately 7,000 GPs throughout Malaysia are involved.
As of Aug 24, 2021, of the 32.21 million vaccination doses given nationwide under NCIP, nearly 1.09 million doses were administered by GPs, equivalent to 3.4% of the total vaccines administered under NCIP.
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