[PHOTOS] AstraZeneca, the coveted ‘poison’

KUALA LUMPUR – Despite the fact that studies show the AstraZeneca vaccines have a probability of forming blood clots in one out of every 250,000 individuals, or a 0.0004% chance, among those who get the shot, the voluntary AstraZeneca vaccination programme for Klang Valley folk that was opened for booking last Sunday saw 260,000 slots snapped up in under four hours.

Mostly comprising young people who would only receive vaccine injections in the third phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, they did not take long to grab the opportunity to get immunised earlier than the schedule date, despite the concerns surrounding AstraZeneca.

Four vaccination centres (PPV) for this opt-in vaccination drive in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur were opened in the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur; Dewan 1, Bangunan Peperiksaan, Universiti Malaya; and, Dewan Gemilang, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The Ideal Convention Centre Shah Alam PPV will open on May 24.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry has promised that 286,800 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be made available on a voluntary basis for the early stage in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, while 1.1 million more doses will be arriving in the country later this month.

With that, its minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said, this opt-in scheme will be made available to the rest of the country, especially those classified as red zones. 

In an earlier news, Khairy who is also the national immunisation programme’s coordinating minister, warned that Phase 3 of the inoculation exercise may be held back due to a supply shortage.

Phase 3, which is supposed to begin this month, may be affected due to an inadequate supply of Covid-19 vaccines worldwide, he said.

The Vibes photographer, SAIRIEN NAFIS went to the ground to capture the kick-off of the opt-in drive yesterday.