KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysian based in Saudi Arabia has called members of the public to allay their fears regarding Covid-19 vaccines, despite having experienced side effects following his first dosage of the Pfizer-BioNtech’s jab recently.
Ariffin Mamat, 63, who works at the National Aquaculture Group (Naqua) and has been based at the kingdom’s port city of Al Lith since 2009, received his first dose of the vaccine on January 14.
“Prior to the vaccination, which was a quick process, I was informed (by Saudi health workers) that post-vaccination, antibody levels in the body will reduce between a period of three to five days.
“By the next day, I was down with fever, flu and body ache before subsequently making a full recovery and returned to work,” he told The Vibes when contacted on Monday.
Despite the side effects, the Ariffin who is affectionately known as Pak Pin, took to Facebook to advise his friends about getting inoculated.
“You make your own assessment based on your health situation and the environment you are exposed to. In short, make your own risk assessment.
“For example, before making a trip for haj, you are required to take the flu shot. That is because you will be joining millions of people who are strangers from most part of the world within a relatively limited space.
“The risk is high, so a flu shot is deemed necessary to mitigate the risk,” his post read.
Hence, despite witnessing him suffering complications due to his vaccination, Ariffin said his wife Aishah Talib will be taking her first dose on Tuesday.
“Why does she want the vaccination despite seeing first-hand what it had done to me? It is a risk and benefit comparison.
“The risk of getting fever and flu due to body reaction to vaccination is no comparison to the risk of being infected by Covid-19 and the complications it can bring,” he said adding that one should make sure that they are healthy and not suffering from fever or flu during the time of vaccination.
The father of six stressed that, while the vaccination itself is not a replacement for all the physical precautions such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, and good personal hygiene.
“We are still living in a world of high risk, especially when about 60% of transmissions are by carriers who do not show any symptoms.
“We need protection and vaccination can offer us that,” he said, adding that he is due for his second dosage by February 3.
Admitting that he had been found positive for Covid-19 while back in Malaysia, Ariffin said he plans to return to the country for a holiday break by the end of next month.
“I was patient number 60 (found Covid-19 positive) in Malaysia. I was admitted to Sg Buloh Hospital between March 5 to March 15, last year.
“I was asymptomatic throughout the period until I was subsequently discharged.
“Our vaccinations, hopefully, will allow my wife and I to return to the country without any need for quarantine procedures,” he said.
Ariffin also expressed his gratitude to the Saudi government for its initiatives in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic by providing the vaccine for free to all those residing in the country, be it citizens or non-citizens.
“We are grateful to have received the vaccine and we pray that it will protect us and keep our loved ones safe too,” he said.
He also expressed hope that the Malaysian government will take a leaf from the Saudi government’s vaccination roll-out, which he described as well prepared and extremely efficient.
“It begins with online registration, whereby there are three categories, according to health status.
“I belong to the category of chronic diseases, and was given an initial appointment, only three days after online registration.
“When I arrived at the location, God willing, it was very organised. There were friendly staff at every step. When it was my turn, I continued to walk according to the colour strip laid on the floor of the facility,” he said.
Upon arriving at the vaccination station, Ariffin said he was then vaccinated before being asked to rest for 15 minutes and was provided with soft drinks.
The entire process, he said from arrival, registration, vaccination as well as rest time after vaccination took him only 20 minutes.
His experiences during his positive Covid-19 diagnosis in Malaysia and recovery amid the global pandemic prompted Ariffin to write a book titled “Coronavirus: Hikmah Dalam Musibah”, which was published in September.
He called upon interested parties who wanted to purchase copies of his book to private message him at his Facebook page. – The Vibes, January 20, 2021
