KUALA LUMPUR – Some senior citizens and those with health conditions are apprehensive about getting the Covid-19 jab, citing difficulty keeping up with information on the vaccine.
This has been the case since the roll-out of Phase 2 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme on Monday.
Some of those who qualify for this round said they have yet to register or are unsure of their registration status.
They cited difficulty in understanding updates on vaccine information, and expressed hesitance following conflicting reports on the shot’s efficacy.
A retired dietician, who wanted to be known only as S. Soma, told The Vibes that she will gain confidence only after other senior citizens have received their shots without severe side effects.
“I am waiting to see how the vaccination affect the others.”
Based on the information she received, Soma said the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are a cause for concern as they involve new technologies.
“I would not be comfortable getting those two as we are unsure of the consequences it has on our DNA, so we have to wait for more studies to be conducted.”
She quipped that it is “good for politicians to be the guinea pigs”, having received the earliest shots in the country.
However, Soma, who has a clean bill of health based on recent medical check-ups, said she is more confident in China’s Sinovac vaccine and the Oxford-made Astrazeneca, as they are developed using “traditional” methods.
She is unsure of the date she is scheduled to receive the shot as she has yet to be notified, she added, and is also uncertain if her registration has been received by the authorities.
D. Singam, a retired lawyer from Ipoh, said despite uncertainties, there is no doubt that she needs the vaccine.
She said the main drawback, however, is the negative news surrounding the efficacy of Covid-19 shots and their side effects.
“I am very worried, but we cannot blame the government as they are trying to bring the vaccines to us.
“The landscape keeps changing, where one day, this (particular) vaccine is said to be good, while another day, it is said to be bad.
“This forces people to the brink of frustration.”
She is also in a quandary over whether to get vaccinated or not, she added.
Retired civil servant Fatimah Ramli, 67, said she has yet to register due to reports of severe side effects, despite the number being small.
“I will have to meet my personal doctor to get the green light, only then will I register.
“I feel that the vaccination can have a different effect on those in my age group.”
She said she will gather more information on the vaccine before deciding to register. – The Vibes, April 22, 2021
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