PUTRAJAYA – Married couples can get vaccinated against Covid-19 together, so as to facilitate their journey to immunisation centres, said Khairy Jamaluddin.
The coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme said such requests have been made, adding that the matter can be arranged by contacting the Special Committee for Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) at 1800-888-828.
“We have decided to allow appointments to be made together. But if married couples register (for vaccination) separately on the MySejahtera app, they might get different appointment dates,” he told a joint press conference with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba today.
He said senior citizens and dependents can request a similar arrangement.
JKJAV decided to vaccinate athletes entering international competitions as they are categorised as being of “national significance”, he said.
The athletes involved include the football squad heading to the United Arab Emirates for the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifying campaign in June.
Khairy, who is also science, technology and innovation minister, said foreigners, including holders of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees card, are expected to get their jabs in Phase 3 of the inoculation drive starting June.
He said he met Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin last week to discuss the matter, and will seek cooperation from the UN.
The onus is on employers to register their foreign workers for vaccination, he said.
He added that the government’s decision on free immunisation for foreigners is to ensure everyone’s safety.
Asked if media personnel will be prioritised in Phase 3, he said it depends on whether there is adequate vaccine supply.
Khairy refuted claims that Malaysia has been “slow” to carry out its inoculation campaign, pointing out that 1,144,841 Covid-19 vaccine doses of the 1,559,540 received so far have been administered.
He said 701,812 individuals have received their first dose, while 443,029 have gotten both.
“Everyone has to wait their turn. It is all scheduled; Phase 1 was for frontliners, Phase 2 for senior citizens, and so forth. We have to stick to the phases, according to the respective categories.”
The approach taken is similar to that adopted in other countries including the United Kingdom, he said.
He said Malaysia is due to receive an additional 128,700 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses on Wednesday, 36,270 doses on Thursday, and 12,870 doses on Friday. – Bernama, April 19, 2021
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