GEORGE TOWN – Workers in the manufacturing sector should be targeted for Covid-19 vaccination as they make up more than 45% – 70% in Penang – of daily Covid-19 infections nationwide.
“Therefore, I suggest that the vaccine should be given to those involved in this sector first so that we can reduce the daily infection rate more quickly and effectively.
“My suggestion (is to) go by factory or targeted area instead of registering online. This will lead to creating group immunity faster,” said Mohd Haizzan Yahaya, senior lecturer at the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
This follows reports yesterday that 10,000 individuals registered under Phase Two of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme in Kelantan did not show up for their vaccination appointments.
State Local Government, Housing, and Health Committee chairman Dr Izani Husin had said this was a disappointment to many parties – including the Kelantan Health Department – as they had put so much effort into arranging the vaccination process.
Haizzan also suggested that the government expedite targeted states for vaccine purposes – priority for high recorded case numbers to low recorded case numbers.
This, he said, is the only way the government can curb red zone states from being completely paralysed in a short time.
Haizzan added the government’s proposal to allow the private sector to secure vaccines approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) will also aid in the effort.
“We should allow people who want to get vaccinated earlier (to do so). In a way, there is no need to wait for the long queue, and this will indirectly speed up the vaccination process.”
He said many people are taking a wait-and-see attitude towards the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines.
“As long as the government is slow on the vaccination process, many people will be afraid to get vaccinated. Hence, a speedy vaccination (roll-out) is a must to eliminate this sense of fear.”
As a long-term proposal, Haizzan suggested the government identify critical equipment supply and manufacturing for ventilators, surplus inventories that can be sold overseas to needy countries and keeping the remaining minimal stock for domestic use.
He said the government also needs to strengthen the domestic biopharma industry, apart from implementing emergency roles and training for government staff and volunteers.
In addition, he said, other frontliners, such as delivery riders, e-hailing drivers, teachers and lecturers, should be vaccinated quickly.
“Last but not least, we should also focus on the post-vaccination process. The psychosocial impact on the people should be taken into consideration as well.
“Let us together focus on the emotional impact pre- and post-vaccination. This can involve psychologists, counsellors and more, not to forget, universities and NGOs as well.” – The Vibes, May 25, 2021
