GEORGE TOWN – Frontliners at Penang’s Kepala Batas Hospital are demanding that they be vaccinated earlier, ahead of other medical workers who are not in direct contact with Covid-19 patients.
A doctor who was treating patients here told The Vibes that dentists, administration staff, and other non-Covid-19 medical personnel were scheduled to be vaccinated first.
“It is unfortunate that the staff here at Penang’s very own Covid-19 centre are only receiving their first dose in the middle of the month,” he said.
This also seems to be the same fate for the Covid-19 team at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, who are only scheduled to be vaccinated on March 11.
“A handful of them have expressed their dismay at learning that those who did not handle patients regularly have received the first dose over the weekend.
“Anaesthesiologists are particularly at risk because we provide respiratory care and tracheal intubation for Covid-19 patients. We work very closely with airways, sometimes with a limited amount of personal protective equipment (PPEs) – but even with PPEs, there is always a risk,” said the doctor.
“We provide ventilation, which generates aerosols that carry the virus, and we stay for long hours with these patients for procedures – all of which is a great risk to us.”
The medical practitioner was quite direct in expressing his disappointment. “We hope to get an answer as to why this is happening – otherwise, where is the meaning in being a frontliner?
“We just hope that priority will be given to those who deal face to face with Covid-19 patients on a daily basis,” he added.
Putrajaya Hospital nephrologist Dr Rafidah Abdullah in a Facebook post slammed the government after the alleged inclusion of certain VIPs – including ministers, as well as assemblymen and their officers – in phase 1 of the vaccination drive.
Dr Rafidah claimed that these individuals were being given priority at the expense of frontline workers, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, private dentists and pharmacists, among others.
On February 16, the prime minister announced that all MPs and assemblymen, regardless of political persuasion, will receive the Covid-19 vaccines in the phase 1.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this was agreed on by the Special Committee of Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV), seeing that MPs and assemblymen are usually in contact with the people in the course of their work. – The Vibes, February 28, 2021
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