GEORGE TOWN – Several healthcare providers are calling for the Health Ministry to look into vaccinating doctors and staff of private clinics as they are at risk, having daily contact with Covid-19 patients.
A doctor operating a private clinic in Kulim said the district Health Department did not make any arrangements for doctors and staff at private clinics to get the vaccine as a preventive measure.
“I called the relevant department to check on the vaccination status after registration on MySejahtera but the names of my staff were not on the list. We were asked to register again.
“I myself have screened 17 Covid-19 cases in my clinic and my staff come into contact with them. They too are at great risk. Those working in private clinics deserve to be vaccinated immediately,” he said.
A physiotherapy outlet operator, who declined to be named, said he has not been considered a health frontliner even though he treats patients daily.
He said the authorities should look into this as pharmacists, opticians, and staff in other medical treatment centres attend to people in high-risk groups.
“Please don’t ignore or neglect these professionals who attend numerous people daily,” he said.
Meanwhile cardiologist Dr Ong Hean Teik, who runs a clinic at Burma Road here, said he was called for vaccination by the Health Department on Wednesday and received the jab on Thursday afternoon.
“I had planned to have my vaccination three months later. But I could not resist the call and went to the Bayan Baru health clinic for the vaccination. It was a pleasant experience with the government staff.
“They were courteous and polite when handling the vaccinations. There were four stations before the jab.
“While I did not feel any aftereffects immediately. I felt warm and slightly unwell the next day,” he said.
Still, he encouraged people to get vaccinated as it gives a feeling of safety and security against the pandemic.
Penang yesterday recorded 68 more Covid-19 cases involving Malaysians and 51 non-citizens.
The state also has 20 cases from the Perusahaan 10 cluster, 15 cases in the Queens Waterfront cluster, 11 cases in the Persiaran Bayan Indah cluster, six each in Seberang Prai Prison and Lintang Kg Jawa clusters, and three in the Beringin cluster. – The Vibes, March 6, 2021
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