Interested stakeholders can submit their request to any registered ProtectHealth’s PMPs and healthcare NGOs 

By TMR / Pic by HUSSEIN SHAHARUDDIN

LOCAL companies and associations that would like to arrange for booster dose vaccination for their employees or members should participate in the Vaccination Centre (PPV) Outreach Programme, ProtectHealth Corp Sdn Bhd said. 

They can do so by making a request to private medical practitioners (PMPs) and healthcare NGOs registered with ProtectHealth. 

“This programme provides a more controlled and easier way for the employees, especially those working in factories and immobile as this programme also provides for home vaccination too,” ProtectHealth said in a statement yesterday. 

The application to open the PPV would be submitted by the PMPs and healthcare NGOs. 

“Previously, most employees would go to the PPV but for now, employers can opt to set up a vaccination drive ranging from one to seven days for their employees. 

“We also encourage PMPs and healthcare NGOs to collaborate with employers and community leaders that wish to do the targeted vaccination at their place, workplace or at the factories to increase the vaccination coverage,” ProtectHealth CEO Datuk Dr Anas Alam Faizli said in the same statement.

“ProtectHealth continues to improve the accessibility and network, as well as increase the convenience for vaccinees by offering the many types of PPVs including for the booster dose, to accommodate the population. 

“The programme is one of the ways to expedite the booster dose vaccination, focusing on targeted groups and sectors for a short-term programme (one to seven days), depending on the numbers of the vaccinees,” he added. 

The outreach programme, which began in November 2021, have been conducted by PMPs and healthcare NGOs to achieve wider accessibility and increase the take up rate for the booster dose nationwide. 

This PPV Outreach Programme replaces previously what is called the Industry PPV which was coordinated with the relevant ministries such as Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (Pikas), Agrofood Industry Vaccination Programme (AiVAC) and Retail Industry Vaccination Programme (RiVAC). Also, it replaces previous outreach programmes with healthcare NGOs reaching for the rural and interior areas. 

Government borne the cost of vaccine, provided free of charge and the vaccine administration where ProtectHealth would pay the PMPs and healthcare NGOs for each vaccination given. 

Provider is paid for full clinical services. Employer is not allowed to charge the vaccinees and should provide appropriate venue and non-clinical infrastructure for the PMPs and healthcare NGOs to do the vaccination. Employers are also not allowed to charge any fee to the employees. 

All PMPs and healthcare NGOs will only be paid by ProtectHealth upon completion of the vaccination process. 

It further stressed that ProtectHealth has never appointed any agent or third party as an intermediary in the application process for the PPV Outreach Programme. 

As of Jan 9, 2022, ProtectHealth has successfully contributed 49.5% of the total vaccination throughout Malaysia, which is equivalent to more than 29 million doses in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP). 

It has also contributed 72.1% of the total booster dose vaccinations throughout Malaysia, which is equivalent to more than 5.6 million doses in the NCIP-Booster. 

In addition, 111 PPV Outreach Programmes have been conducted, with 69 PPV Outreach vaccinations for employees at workplaces and 42 PPV Outreach vaccinations for the communities.