Speeding up Second Phase Registration and Vaccination

Elderly wary of vaccines 

(A slightly edited version with this title was published in the Star 16 April 2021)

The Minister of Health is wondering why most of the seniors have not registered for the second phase vaccination. Although I have not done a survey to find the exact answer, many people including medical and other professionals from this age group have shared with me their thoughts related to this matter. One of the main reasons is that they are waiting to see if the authority will eventually be “enlightened” and “caring” enough to give them the choice of what vaccine they want to be inoculated with. Many feel outraged that they do not have a choice of what is injected into their bodies!

Given that most of the vaccines now available worldwide have not been ADEQUATELY tested, and that some involve relatively new technology; their preference for a vaccine they deem more widely “tried and tested” and therefore “safer”, is perfectly understandable.  Besides, there is also the perception that some ministers, both past and present, have used the “delay strategy” – not to mention other covert ways -- to get their preferred vaccines. So, these seniors harbor the hope that if they wait and see, they too may get their choice vaccine later!

What can the government do to speed up registration and vaccination for the coming second phase involving these “wait and see” seniors? Firstly, let us bear in mind that seniors are a very vulnerable group, many with complicated or even multiple medical pre conditions that warrant careful considerations when it comes to vaccination. Secondly, risk factors have to be minimized when choosing a vaccine for them, in light of various negative reports about undesirable and longer term side effects of some new tech vaccines, whether proven or not at this point in time. As such, those seniors who are well informed would surely be more willing to register for vaccination if they are given a choice. As it is now, it does look to them like “register now, and you risk not knowing what vaccine you are going to be injected with!”

At this juncture, I would also like to refer to a letter to the editor “Don’t deny right to choose vaccine” (The Sun, 22^nd Feb. 2021). Various people have also voiced similar opinion since then, but all to no avail so far. Not too long ago, the government finally announced that they will be getting the private hospitals involved to speed up registration and vaccination. This is good news.  Perhaps now is the time to seriously consider giving the public, especially the seniors, a choice. The MOH can just announce which hospital is using which vaccine so that people who prefer that particular vaccine can register with the hospital concerned. This will kill two birds with one stone: Speed up registration and vaccination, and at the same time, give people a choice. From what I heard recently, in Singapore, each vaccination center only carries one type of vaccine. So, the public effectively get to choose the vaccine they prefer when they register with the center of their choice. Is this not something we can do here in Malaysia?  In addition, since the government is looking into setting up vaccination centers in big factories and workplaces, why not include recreational clubs with sizable senior membership, such as the Royal Lake Club and Royal Selangor Club in the Klang Valley?

Finally, to protect the vulnerable seniors and to attain herd immunity nationwide as soon as possible, we cannot wait for the private hospitals to procure their own vaccines. It will be too long a wait, knowing that currently there is an acute shortage of vaccines worldwide. We have to start the government vaccination programs in private hospitals NOW and not later.