PUTRAJAYA – Individuals will be screened for allergies and their medical history looked into prior to receiving the Covid-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
“Those who are not suitable for receiving the vaccine will not be given the jab,” he told a press conference after launching the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Handbook today.
Muhyiddin said once the individual receives the vaccine jab, he or she will be monitored for 15 to 30 minutes before being allowed to leave the vaccination centre to ensure they suffer no serious allergic reactions.
He said the vaccine may have mild side effects, such as swelling at the injection site, but such effects will heal on their own.
He said the government will continue monitoring the efficacy and safety of the vaccine to ensure that the immunisation programme can proceed for as long as possible to ensure as many people are vaccinated as possible.
Muhyiddin said the government will not resort to making the jabs compulsory, despite the government’s target of inoculating 80% of the Malaysian population.
“People should understand that they will be facing difficulties in the long term, including travel restrictions, as most countries might ban people who are not vaccinated from entering (their countries).
“If you are not vaccinated, there could be a restriction for you to move around,” he said.
Muhyiddin said the success of the immunisation programme is important for the economy as it will enable more sectors, such as tourism, to resume. – Bernama, February 16, 2021
