Less than half of those eligible for COVID-19 booster shots have not turned up for their appointments ever since additional doses rolled out last month, according to the Health Minister.
Khairy Jamaluddin took to Twitter today to lament the vaccine absenteeism, warning Malaysians in his tweet that the hospitalization rate could go up again if people abandon their injections and fall sick from the coronavirus. Those who reacted to his tweet had pointed out the inconvenience of honoring vaccine appointments, suggesting walk-ins instead.
“Around 40% of people getting their [National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme] booster appointments are not showing up for their jab,” the minister said in today’s tweet. The 45-year-old had his booster shot last month.
“If you get an appointment, take the booster,” he added.
Malaysia began administering Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots to the elderly and people with preexisting medical conditions on Oct. 13. More than 640,000 people have gotten their additional injections so far.
Eligible individuals were assigned a date to turn up at various designated clinics for their injections and were not allowed to pick a time and date that was convenient for them.
Those who reacted to Khairy’s statement today suggested he allowed people to walk into clinics for their injections instead of waiting for an appointment. Others said to give the unwanted shots to other people who may need them.
“Allow walk-in according to age group. This will speed up the booster shots & less wastage,” Twitter user Folkloreswifty said.
“If they don’t want, give it to other people, sir,” Kookieunnie said.
Ninety-five percent of Malaysia’s adult population has taken two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, but the country continues to report thousands of new cases and dozens of new deaths each day, mostly involving the elderly and the unvaccinated. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has also stabilized over the past month after a record surge in September overloaded hospitals across the country with more than 2,500 new admissions each day.
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