[VIDEO] MySejahtera glitch leaves senior citizen in pickle over vaccine choice

KUALA LUMPUR – All were composed and in order at the newly opened mega Covid-19 vaccination centre in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) yesterday.

Many senior citizens who were met here praised the medical staff and volunteers stationed at each checkpoint as they were very helpful.  

Volunteers including staff from Malaysia Airlines were on site to help vaccine recipients register, and facilities such as wheelchairs were also provided.  

While the operations at the centre are on the right track, the same cannot be said about the MySejahtera appointment system.  

Tium Maimon, 85, was left confused and disappointed on Monday morning as her Covid-19 appointment was brought forward without prior notice.

The 85-year-old was initially supposed to present herself at a local hospital today for her vaccination appointment. 

“Our original schedule was supposed to be today (June 8) and my mother is supposed to receive the Pfizer vaccine at the hospital.  

“But at 11am yesterday, we checked the MySejahtera app and her appointment was reset to 11am yesterday at KLCC.  

“It was quite a hassle for us to rush from Shah Alam. She is a dependent under my brother’s account,” said her daughter, Marsineh Jarmin.

However, having rushed from Shah Alam to KLCC for the appointment, Tium and her children had to leave disappointed, with no vaccine in sight.  

“My mother had just been discharged two months ago with an acute pneumonia infection. The doctor advised her to not take the Sinovac vaccine at the moment, but they only administer Sinovac here. 

“Unfortunately, we have to reschedule the appointment to receive either the AstraZeneca or the Pfizer vaccine,” she said.  

Marsineh said glitches on the MySejahtera app could deter the government’s effort to achieve herd immunity by year-end.  

We are very much for it (to be vaccinated). We support the government for it. But maybe along the line, it’s important to ensure operations run smoothly.

“It’s smooth at the PPV, but it’s not as smooth on the app,” she said. 

A Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force spokesman present on site said the team will look into the matter and help Tium reschedule her appointment to the soonest possible date.  

Yesterday, Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said senior citizens are advised to accept any Covid-19 vaccine that is being offered during their inoculation appointments.

Khairy, who is also the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister, said recipients are not allowed to choose the brand of vaccine they want to receive. 

It was reported that some elderly recipients have rejected the jabs offered to them during their appointments after not being allowed to choose their preferred brand. – The Vibes, June 8, 2021