Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin initiated the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme handbook in a virtual ceremony on 16th February, with the first batch of vaccines expected to arrive sometime on 21st February and deployed on 26th February. Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Adham Baba were present at the ceremony as well.
The handbook stresses Malaysia’s whole vaccination plan from the registration process to the post-immunisation observation. It’s currently available and accessible on the government’s brand new Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV) website.
According to the handbook, here are 4 things Malaysians need to know about the new national action plan:
1. The vaccinations will be spread out in three phases
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced at the time of the launch, that the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines will arrive on 21st February. As a result, Malaysia will start implementing the immunisation programme on 26th February, where the frontliners will be the first to be vaccinated.
- The first phase will take place from 26th February to April which mainly involves frontliners, with a number of around 500,000 individuals.
- Next is the second phase, which could run from April to August. This phase involves high-risk groups like the elderly and people suffering from chronic conditions which are around 9.4 million people.
- Finally, for the third phase, it will take place from May until next year in February 2022, which consists of the remaining adult population from age 18 and above, with around 13.7 million individuals.
2. Malaysians can register for Covid-19 vaccines starting in March 2021
While the vaccinations will be free for all citizens and non-citizens in Malaysia, it is not mandatory. Individuals will need to voluntarily register and give consent for the purpose of receiving jabs.
There are five different ways highlighted in the handbook for people registering for the vaccination:
- You can register by applying at the MySejahtera app found on App Store or Google Play.
- Applicants can also register at the JKJAV website.
- There will also be a specialised phone hotline.
- Public and private medical facilities will have manual registrations.
- This method of registration will also be applied with state government rural outreach programmes.
After registering, applicants will receive a notification by phone call or SMS of the hospital as well as an appointment date to be administered the vaccination.
3. The Covid-19 vaccination duration
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin urged people to receive the vaccination if they do not want to face restraints for those traveling or working in the future.
The process of vaccination might take two weeks to a month for those who are vaccinated. This depends on the vaccine dosage schedule. Certain vaccines will need two doses over a number of days apart:
- The Pfizer-BioNTech and Gamaleya-Sputnik V vaccines will take 21 days.
- The Oxford-AstraZeneca will take about 28 days.
- Sinovac vaccines will take around 14 days.
Be careful, for those who have done their vaccinations will have to watch themselves in case of any side effects after receiving each dose. If there are any, please make a report through the MySejahtera app, the JKJAV website, or even by going to the nearest government clinic.
4. The 5 types of Covid-19 vaccines available here
Keep in mind though, that based on the handbook, our country has obtained 66.7 million doses of vaccines which will immunise 109.65% of the Malaysian population. The handbook also stated that at a point in time, the vaccines will be given out based on the available vaccine stock.
Now, there are five manufacturers Malaysia has secured Covid-19 vaccines from. These manufacturers are:
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Oxford-AstraZeneca
- Sinovac
- CanSinoBIO
- Sputnik V
By February 2022, 80% of the population (26.5 million) in Malaysia is expected to be vaccinated according to the government.
Source: Malay Mail.
