KUALA LUMPUR – Those who refuse to be vaccinated against Covid-19 may have to be subjected to regular testing, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said this is because the government has currently determined that it will not legally mandate vaccines as mandatory, but instead use a more persuasive approach to have people get themselves immunised.
During his first press conference since taking on the portfolio earlier this week, Khairy said he will raise the proposal of a national testing strategy or policy to be implemented when Covid-19 becomes endemic.
“We are going to encourage (vaccinations) and provide privileges for people who have been vaccinated. They (vaccinated) can do things that the unvaccinated can’t do.
“But we also encourage sectoral persuasion. It’s not law or federal mandate, where companies say ‘if you want to come for a meeting or you want to come to work, you have to be vaccinated’, and that’s up to the companies.”
Khairy also said with regular testing still being required as the nation heads towards an endemic phase of the virus, testing will be made more affordable.
He added that the cabinet today had decided to set a ceiling price for test kits, and that the government will make an announcement on the matter soon.
“Once we go endemic, whether you are vaccinated or not, you need to test yourself quite regularly, and that’s why you want to make testing more affordable, and more accessible.
“So those who refuse to vaccinate will have to have a certain schedule of testing that they have to adhere to. My preferred outcome is if you have no medical reason to not vaccinate, go and get it.
“I have not come to the stage where I will recommend to the cabinet a federal mandate, but I’m not far from it either.” – The Vibes, September 1, 2021
