Opinion

Be safe, get vaccinated – Manvir Victor

Covid-19 pandemic has shown that sticking together, inoculation will get through us these dark days

Updated 2 years ago · Published on 13 May 2021 1:00PM

Be safe, get vaccinated – Manvir Victor
Despite the actual roll-out of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme being relatively efficient authorities could improve communications on the need for vaccinations. – The Vibes file pic, May 13, 2021

by Manvir Victor

WE have finally reached the time of the year that many of the rakyat are getting vaccinated against Covid-19. I got my shot on April 30. Here is a bit of background first.

I had a kidney transplant nine years ago in Hospital Kuala Lumpur with my donor being my wife. Since then, spurred on by the great nephrology team there, I have become a global patient advocate for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and have spoken worldwide on healthcare communication and how it can be improved to enhance patient advocacy and safety.

All this has helped me in my role as a stakeholder and I am the chairman of the Patient for Patients Safety Malaysia, a board member on several healthcare initiatives as well as the National Patient Council, chaired by the health director-general.

This has allowed me to have a clearer picture of healthcare in Malaysia and what steps need to be taken to improve it, as everything in life must.

The Health Ministry (MoH) and the public hospitals it manages have been stretched thin by this pandemic and this is clear for all to see. It is equally disconcerting for many to see other non-medical people seemingly calling the shots and public trust in the process has been eroded.

But let us address what I have learnt in the past few weeks by speaking to many patient groups and patients that I have access to.

Surprisingly, the number one reason most are reluctant to take the vaccine is, the fear of injections and syringes. About 80% of people I have spoken to are extremely fearful of needles and they need to be more than 100% sure that the vaccine they’re being injected with is worth the fear and pain they must endure.

Has the MoH and the other agencies answered this question well enough? What do you think?

For a roll-out of this magnitude to work, the government needs to ensure that education is reaching the masses. Simply saying do not speculate does not help. In the digital age, one will continue to seek information and if none is available locally, there is an abundance of it globally.

That being said, the actual physical roll-out has been very well thought out and efficient.

Many people in Malaysia cite fear of injections and syringes as a reason for their apprehension about getting a Covid-19 vaccine. – The Vibes file pic, May 13, 2021
Many people in Malaysia cite fear of injections and syringes as a reason for their apprehension about getting a Covid-19 vaccine. – The Vibes file pic, May 13, 2021

I was called for my first Pfizer jab on April 23 and when I went in on April 30, the whole process took less than one hour, including the 30 minute post-vaccine observation.

My vaccination was at the old maternity ward of HKL, and they even explained to me where to park and when to arrive so as not to waste time.

When I arrived and brought along my wife, just in case she needed to drive me back, they admitted us both and ensured that we were placed in the right area. Everyone was set apart in a single file and we had to move up closer to the room when the person in front of us was moved up.

When I arrived in the registration room, it was a smooth process and the clerk there explained everything to me in English clearly and slowly. After that, a doctor came by to re-explain everything to me and check for any allergies, etc.

The doctor then inquired if I understood everything and if I had any questions, and I double-checked the side effects once again with her. Once I was clear and she was happy, I was herded once again outside to another single file group.

Five minutes later, I was called by another young attendant and taken into a room where I was sat down, and the vaccination administered immediately. It was so quick that I even did not feel the needle or the fluid at all. 

I was so surprised that I asked to see the needle and it was so thin, it was nearly invisible. All in all, I would say, I have had more painful mosquito bites!

After this, I was shown a bar code and asked to produce the MySejahtera app and use the barcode to acknowledge that I have had my first dose. Once this was completed, I was asked to go for observation.

This was in another area of the ward, where they acknowledged the time of my shot and then took me to a room to sit with others who have had their vaccinations.

Walking to the observation room, I spied another nurse with emergency equipment on standby in case of any adverse reactions. This was surprisingly comforting for me, knowing they were prepared for every eventuality.

I must say that the process was explained clearly. And they ensured that you updated your MySejahtera app when necessary. The personnel were thorough and ensured that all of us were very confident in their ability to do what was necessary.

When everything was done, I was given the date for my second shot and told what to do in case of any side effects and a vaccination card to show to the emergency ward in case the side effects were bad.

Despite popular perception, receiving the jab under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme was a smooth process. – The Vibes file pic, May 13, 2021
Despite popular perception, receiving the jab under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme was a smooth process. – The Vibes file pic, May 13, 2021

Once they acknowledged that I was clear on all the processes, I could leave the centre. I left and headed to have breakfast. The entire vaccination took me 55 minutes and the observation another 30 minutes. And finally, I was one step closer to being Covid-19 resistant.

My left arm where I was vaccinated, felt normal till about six hours later when the soreness kicked in. It was only then that I stopped wondering if I had been vaccinated at all and knew for sure.

The soreness stayed for about 48 to 72 hours and since I was then moving to a new house and carrying a lot of things, it probably was partly my fault. Other than the soreness, I felt lethargic and tired two days after the shot. That feeling came suddenly and I had to rest and sleep to overcome it.

However, I did not have any high fever or any of the other symptoms like itchiness at all. My appetite was normal, and I ensured I was sufficiently hydrated.

For those who fear the needle, I can say this, take a deep breath and count to five, it will be over before then and you will realise that you did not even feel it.

Now we know that to achieve herd immunity about 80%-90% of the world population needs to be vaccinated. This pandemic has shown that health is indeed wealth, and we all need to stick together to get through these dark days.

I hope that reading this one can allay their fears in the knowledge that a person like me, who is immunocompromised and has been through about 18 years of disease and extreme pain, is endorsing this vaccine for the sake of a better and healthier life. – The Vibes, May 13, 2021

Manvir Victor is chairman of Patients for Patient Safety Malaysia and executive editor at The Vibes

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