KUALA LUMPUR – Covid-19 vaccine recipients who were at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) vaccination centre (PPV) in Shah Alam between last Friday from 4pm and yesterday are advised to observe a 10-day self-quarantine.
National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told a press conference today that 204 IDCC staffers tested positive for the coronavirus during a mass screening on Saturday.
The screening was ordered after two staffers had earlier tested positive for Covid-19.
The IDCC PPV has a total of 453 staffers, including volunteers.
Vaccine recipients who have had their vaccination dates rescheduled have been informed via SMS and social media, and have received new appointment dates, he said.
Volunteers will also be stationed at the IDCC to inform recipients who are unaware of the closure to turn back.
“The RT-PCR test results have shown that 204 staff members who are positive have a CT (Cycle Threshold) value of more than 35, where they have a low viral load.
“We found that the exposure could have happened on July 9. As a precaution, the CITF advises those who presented themselves for vaccination at the IDCC on July 9 from 4pm onwards to self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms for 10 days.
“The symptoms are different from post-vaccination side effects. Covid-19 symptoms should not be confused with side effects of the vaccination, for instance, cough and the loss of sense of smell and taste.”
The CT value is a number that comes up during a real-time RT-PCR test and can be used as an estimate of transmission potential.
Individuals with a low CT value (high viral load) are associated with being more infectious, while those with a high CT value (low viral load) might be recovered individuals who are no longer infectious.
Khairy said as soon as he received information of the test results of the staffers, he ordered an immediate closure of the PPV for a day to ensure cleaning and sanitation work could be done by the Fire and Rescue Department.
Should information from the contact-tracing system show a high risk that a cluster could be formed at a particular PPV, Khairy said screening tests will be conducted.
“We will rely on information, including from contact-tracing systems at the CPRC (Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre).
“We will use that information as pre-emptive measures if the information that we obtain through those systems show that there are PPVs that have a high risk of becoming a cluster; then, I will instruct for screening tests to be conducted at the PPV.
“So far, based on our quick actions at the IDCC, hopefully, we can avoid this issue from turning into a bigger problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, vaccine recipients who have their vaccination dates rescheduled have been informed via SMS and social media, and they have received new appointment dates, he said.
There will be volunteers stationed at the IDCC to inform recipients who are unaware of the closure to turn back.
“I have instructed all IDCC staff members from the previous batch to be isolated and switched with a new task force as a precaution so the potential of Covid-19 transmissions can be reduced.
“I have also instructed NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) to conduct ventilation quality monitoring at the PPV.”
He said of the PPV’s total of 453 staffers, 88%, or 400 of them, have been vaccinated and 12% have yet to receive the jab.
On the remaining 53 staff members who have not been inoculated before starting their duties at the PPV, he said there is a possibility that they are from the new rotation of staffers.
“Sometimes, there are staff members from the new rotation who have not been vaccinated, but usually, they will be jabbed in their first week of duty.”
Khairy, who is also science, technology and innovation (Mosti) minister, said the one-day closure of the IDCC PPV will not slow down the national vaccination drive.
“This is the first time a PPV has had to be shut down due to Covid-19 infections, but we acted fast and, by shutting it down today and taking proactive measures by changing the personnel at the PPV, sanitising and rescheduling, we hope the disruption is only for a day. It will not hamper the vaccination process.
“I urge the public to attend their appointments at the PPV as usual as it is safe for them to come tomorrow onwards.” – The Vibes, July 13, 2021
