FROM a high of approximately 150,000 first dose COVID-19 vaccinations in the last week of July 2021, the first dose vaccination rate has now dropped to slightly over 30,000 doses a day in both Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Selangor combined.
This has been pointed out by Bukit Gasing state assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran in a press statement today.
“We first heard earlier this month that clinics were no longer assigned to give first doses.
“Dr Steven Chow, president of the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Association Malaysia (FPMPAM) claimed that GPs (general practitioners) were no longer allowed to give the first vaccine dose,” said Rajiv.
He has recently learned that the sole mega vaccination centre (PPV) in his constituency – in MBPJ Civic Hall – is also not assigned first dose appointments but only second dose appointments now.
“We should not rest on our laurels. The rate needs to go back to its former levels to protect our society from COVID-19.
“The JKJAV (Jawatankuasa Khas Jaminan Akses Bekalan Vaksin COVID-19) has already conceded that it does not know how many adults are in the KL Selangor area due to migration and undocumented immigrants.”
However, statistics from the JKJAV website revealed that there were 539,886 people who registered for the vaccine that have yet to be vaccinated. The number does not include those who have yet to register or walk in to get their jabs for various reasons.
“The JKJAV should reinstate all panel clinics for the first dose in order to make vaccination more accessible to the masses in KL and Selangor areas rather than the current practice of asking those without appointments to walk in to one of 10 centres which could be very far and would discourage many from walking in,” Rajiv remarked.
“Are we running low on vaccine supply? This cannot be the case as the Dewan Rakyat was recently told that Pharmaniaga has three million excess stocks in its storage.
“JKJAV needs to come clean about this, as slowing down vaccination in KL and Selangor means putting lives at stake,” he concluded. – Aug 16, 2021
