Register under PPV programme for employees’ booster jabs, ProtectHealth urges employers

KUALA LUMPUR – ProtectHealth Corporation has urged companies and associations wanting to provide booster shots for their employees and members to register under its Vaccination Centre (PPV) Outreach Programme.

In a statement, ProtectHealth, a non-profit company established by the Health Ministry, said they can participate in the programme through private medical practitioners (PMPs) and healthcare non-government organisations (NGOs) registered with ProtectHealth.

Its chief executive officer Datuk Anas Alam Faizli said the programme provides a more organised way for employees, especially those working in factories, to receive the booster shots.

The programme, he said, also provides home vaccination, which would benefit those who are immobile, among others.

He said ProtectHealth will continue to improve the accessibility and network for vaccines, as well as enhance convenience for recipients by offering various types of PPVs.

The PPV Outreach programme, he said, will expedite the booster dose vaccination, focusing on targeted groups and sectors for a short duration of one to seven days, depending on the numbers of vaccine recipients.

“Previously, most employees would (need to) go to the PPV, but now, employers can opt to set up a vaccination drive ranging from one to seven days for their employees,” he said.

“We also encourage PMPs and healthcare NGOs to collaborate with employers and community leaders that wish to do the targeted vaccination at their place, workplace or at the factories to increase the vaccination coverage.”

The new PPV Outreach Programme is replacing the outgoing PPV Industri programme, run by several ministries under the public-private partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme, Agrofood Industry Vaccination Programme, and Retail Industry Vaccination Programme.

It will also replace previous outreach programmes carried out by healthcare NGOs that covered rural areas.

Under the country’s vaccination drive, the government bears the costs of the vaccines. ProtectHealth then pays the PMPs and healthcare NGOs for each vaccination.

Anas said employers are not allowed to charge for the vaccines and should provide appropriate venues and non-clinical infrastructure for the PMP and healthcare NGOs to provide vaccinations. – The Vibes, January 10, 2022