THE Government’s decision to centralise COVID-19 vaccination to 13 vaccination centres (PPVs) in the Klang Valley especially based on inaccurate statistics has drawn the ire of Bukit Gasing state assemblyperson Rajiv Rishyakaran.
“The line of people who require walk-in vaccination in the MBPJ Civic Hall has been snaking with lots of cars and people crowding the area. Bukit Gasing residents have raised their concerns over the issue and are afraid that this vaccination might cause an outbreak,” Rajiv said in a statement today.
“This concern is very real especially when people are lining up to get in the first come first serve list from all over the Klang Valley.
“I understand that some mega PPVs should be shut down as the demand has slowed, but it does not justify the discontinuation of the vaccination through the local general practitioners (GPs) clinics. It is truly disappointing.”
Allowing 300 GPs to freely operate also means that the residents do not have to queue for hours in order to obtain a shot.
The sense of urgency and rush is created with the shutdown of multiple PPVs in the Klang Valley. Allowing these GPs who are interested in operating consistently with a stable flow of vaccines, reassures the residents that vaccines are available.
Rajiv further went on to point out that decentralising the vaccination process also means that undocumented migrant workers will feel more safe walking into a clinic they already trust and go to for their medical needs.
The COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) had previously acknowledged that vaccinating migrant workers poses a challenge.
“Vaccinating everyone is vital and this would be a step in the right direction,” he remarked, adding that mobilising private clinics can instil a sense of confidence that will encourage these migrant workers to get vaccinated.
“I strongly urge the Special Committee On COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) to immediately decentralise the vaccination process and allow all the GPs who want to administer the vaccine to partake in this.”
It does not cost us much to equip each clinic with at least one batch of vaccines, even if the sceptics think that there is no need, Rajiv explained.
“300 Clinics vs 13 Mega PPV? 300 clinics would certainly make vaccination more accessible. In the aim to vaccinate, let’s make getting the jab easy and near, and let us not further spread this deadly virus by forcing them to congregate,” Rajiv concluded. – Aug 24, 2021.
