Although it is a good sign that more than one million people registered their interest voluntarily on May 26, the second phase of the AstraZeneca vaccination is only scheduled between June 7 and July 27. This is only applicable for the first dose of the vaccine.

When I entered the AstraZeneca registration webpage via https://www.vaksincovid.gov.my/, there were not many vaccination centres (PPVs) to choose from – only two PPVs are available in Kuala Lumpur.

After anticipating my appointment date and time via MySejahtera for two days, finally, I received confirmation on May 28. However, I could only receive the vaccination in two months (July 27).

Although the current administration has an ambitious target administering 150,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine per day by setting up more mega PPVs, the large crowds at the four PPVs in the Klang Valley in mid-May posed concern among the public.

It was obvious when Malaysia recorded 4,113 new COVID-19 cases on May 14. Some citizens who were not registered for the AstraZeneca vaccine were “trying their luck” by walking in to the PPV at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) the next day (May 15).

On the other hand, some citizens who managed to secure vaccination appointment during the first AstraZeneca opt-in registration on May 2 arrived much earlier than their scheduled time. Instead of arriving half an hour before their vaccination appointment time (i.e., 6 pm), there was a significant number of people there hours earlier (i.e., 2 pm).

Respecting the overcrowding situation in some PPVs earlier, former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz recommended that the current administration use multi-purpose halls to provide convenience for the district health officers to monitor the vaccination coverage in a particular district. The residents also do not have to cross borders to receive the vaccination.

More mega PPVs

As of May 30, National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin stated that three more mega PPVs have been set up in Selangor and two more in Kuala Lumpur.

For instance, The Mines, Puncak Alam UiTM and Setia City Convention Centre are the three additional mega PPVs in Selangor. The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and Bukit Jalil National Stadium are the other two mega PPVs in Kuala Lumpur.

Despite Khairy being committed to arranging for small PPVs, drive-through PPVs and mobile PPVs as part of the COVID-19 vaccination efforts, the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) Handbook indicated a relatively low number of PPVs allocated in states such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

To address the insufficient PPVs issue, the current administration could consider renting empty community halls as well as universities, hotels and other appropriate facilities in different zones of each constituency. This would help the respective owners to weather the health crisis while ensuring the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are observed at all times.

Although the Ministry of Federal Territories has aimed to provide 40 mobile trucks to conduct "mobile truck" vaccination, it is time for the current administration to set up more mobile clinics outside the federal territories (of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan). This would provide convenience for the residents in receiving the vaccination.

As more than a third of the population in East Malaysia continues to live beyond five kilometres of any kind of health facility, there is a crucial need to enhance coordination between the federal government and state governments. So, the vaccines could be distributed according to the population needs and logistical requirements.

With the help from the federal government and COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV), both the Sabah and Sarawak state governments could provide flying doctor services in the remote areas of both states. It would shorten the delivery times of vaccines and allow rural citizens in both states to inoculate as soon as possible.

Private clinics as PPVs

It is a good move by the current administration to have 500 general practitioner (GP) clinics administering COVID-19 vaccines from June 15 and 1,000 private clinics designated as PPVs by June 30. However, only 184 out of the 2,500 GPs have begun administering the vaccines, according to Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy, President of the Malaysian Medical Association.

This is quite a disappointment as more GPs should come forward to assist the government in this inoculation drive to achieve herd immunity, now that the government has designated private clinics as PPVs.

Besides medical, nursing and pharmacy students, vaccine corps could be formed by community grassroots, comprising retired or unemployed clinicians. They could deliver vaccine shots, monitor individuals who had just been vaccinated or inject the second dose for the vaccines to be fully effective.

For instance, students in the vaccine corps could administer vaccines in low-cost housing flats and shelters for the homeless and victims of domestic violence. They should also be provided transportation to vaccination sites or take doses directly to homebound elders who might have difficulty travelling from one place to another.

By mobilising vaccine corps on a large scale, the current administration could accelerate the nationwide roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines, besides ensuring doses are distributed equitably to every Malaysian citizen.

As the current administration plans to station 15,000 officers in 950 vaccination centres throughout the country, some can be allocated to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, giving extra helping hands in vaccination for the benefit of residents in less-developed Malaysian states.

Moreover, the government could consider Indonesia’s approach – collaborating with private companies such as Grab to provide more drive-through PPVs across Malaysia.

Whole-of-society effort

For ensuring successful implementation, a real whole-of-society effort would be required, going beyond the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Security Council (NSC).

This would involve different stakeholders such as non-governmental bodies, corporations, embassies, international organisations, schools, universities and health care providers.

By marking and including all the semi-urban, rural and interior areas onto the map, village community development councils (MPKK), community development officers (PPM) and residents committees could monitor the vaccination coverage thoroughly in their respective communities.

In a nutshell, now is the time for the current administration to provide multiple types of PPVs across the whole country, ensuring Malaysia inoculates at least 80 per cent of the population by year-end.

-- BERNAMA

Amanda Yeo is Research Analyst at EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.