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GEORGE TOWN – The Health Ministry has been urged to start a fresh narrative to curb the spread of new Covid-19 variants.
Former Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Ashok Philip said emphasis should be given to strains found to have infected vaccinated individuals.
“The standard operating procedures (SOPs) need to be accompanied with new measures to fight the pandemic, especially new variants such as Delta.
“The country needs to come to terms with dealing with the residual trail of the virus if herd immunity is to be achieved.
“It doesn’t look like the virus will simply disappear with vaccination.”
He said it is inadequate to just tell people to get vaccinated, pointing out that it is equally important to educate them on what the immediate future entails.
The possibility is that the basic SOPs of physical distancing, masking and strong hygiene practices are here to stay for a while.
“The importance of building immunity must also be advocated.
“There is also the economic pressure that makes physical distancing difficult to be effectively observed, like in factory production lines. This needs attention, too.”
He said the science and facts in relation to the coronavirus must be communicated in plain language to ensure understanding by the average person.
Sharing the same perspective is Penang Medical Practitioners’ Society president Dr Parmjit Singh, who called on the authorities to effectively communicate to the public that the virus will stay.
The authorities should focus on migrant workers – those in the country legally and otherwise – so that there is an “accountability system” in place to have them vaccinated, he added.
The International Organisation for Migration has estimated that there are between two million and four million undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia.
Dr Parmjit said health authorities also need to ramp up the vaccination rate to counter the rise of new Covid-19 variants. – The Vibes, August 20, 2021
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