THE Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) lauded ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd’s decision to provide home vaccination services to senior citizens who are unable to travel to vaccination centres due to various reasons.
However, its president Dr Koh Kar Chai said the announcement may have come too late, which may leave many elderly citizens unable to prepare themselves at such short notice.
“Though senior citizens may be in their own homes or care centres, there is still the need to make arrangements for caregivers to be present during the vaccination,” he said, in a statement.
Yesterday, ProtectHealth CEO Datuk Dr Anas Alam Faizli said that they would be offering booster dose vaccinations to the elderly through its existing Home Vaccination Programme.
The programme, which brings the inoculation drive to an elderly person’s home, is done in collaboration with the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
“We wanted to provide a smooth and convenient experience for vaccinees, especially the elderly who were unable to go to the vaccination centres for their vaccines.
“Although the Omicron wave is not as aggressive as Delta’s, it is not a mild disease for senior citizens, particularly those with comorbidities as it poses the risk of fatality.
“We call on the people to make sure your parents and loved ones get the best protection against the Covid-19 virus. By getting the booster shot, we can protect our entire community,” The New Straits Times reported him as saying.
It is to note that those who have yet to receive their booster shots by March 1 would lose their fully vaccinated status on MySejahtera.
Touching on the unvaccinated and yet to receive booster shots, Koh urged them not to take COVID-19 and the Omicron variant lightly.
“The unvaccinated are taking a gamble. Some may develop mild symptoms when infected with the Omicron variant while there is still the possibility of contracting COVID-19 with severe symptoms.
“And those who survived severe symptoms will tell you that COVID-19 should not be taken lightly. Many of them were traumatised by the event,” he stressed.
Don’t take COVID-19 lightly
While the country was transitioning to endemic stage, Koh reminded the public that hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infections was still at an alarming rate.
“The symptoms of the Omicron variant are mostly mild but it is not always the case. If a person’s natural immunity system is weak, there is still the possibility of severe symptoms when infected with the virus, even if they have been vaxxed.
“If this the case for the fully vaccinated, what more those who haven’t even received their primary jabs?” he queried.
Koh then stated that for those who are still adamant against vaccination, nothing much could be done as a lot of public awareness campaigns have been conducted in the past.
“Evidence has shown that those vaccinated with two doses of the Sinovac vaccine will require a booster dose to ensure adequate levels of immunity.
“And this is particularly so among the elderly, as well as those with comorbidities.” – March 27, 2022
