PUTRAJAYA: The government will start to administer AstraZeneca vaccine at specially designated vaccination centres (PPVs) soon, and the public can opt for it, said National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said registration for the AstraZeneca vaccine shots would be on a first-come-first-served basis and is voluntary.
The move was made to address the people’s fears and concerns about the vaccine, apart from not wanting to disrupt the ongoing immunisation programme, he said.
“Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and I have discussed AstraZeneca in detail... we do not want to waste this effective and safe vaccine, but at the same time we understand that science and facts cannot overcome public concerns.
“We will open designated PPVs for the vaccines and it will not be administered at the regular PPVs... so those who have seen all the data on the vaccines can come forward to register voluntarily,” he said in a joint press conference with Dr Adham on the development of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme today.
He said that the appointment booking system will be open to anyone aged 18 and above; it will not be reserved only for those listed in the second phase.
The designated PPVs will be established in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, where a total of 268,800 doses of vaccine have been allocated, he said.
“For a start, the vaccine will be administered in these two states as a consideration to control the pandemic.
“We will carry out a pre-vaccination screening assessment at the designated PPVs for those who register, and once we find that they are eligible to receive the vaccine, they will be inoculated,” he said.
He said that those who already have an appointment date, including the elderly, do not have to worry because they will be given the Pfizer vaccine.
Khairy said that only AstraZeneca will be administered at the designated PPVs due to the concerns over the possible blood clots related to the vaccine, and since there were no concerns over other vaccines, namely Pfizer and Sinovac, these two vaccines will continue to be administered at other PPVs.
He said that the second dose of AstraZeneca would be given after 12 weeks so that more individuals could be vaccinated in these two states.
“As a result of discussions with the Health director-general, the interval for AstraZeneca as agreed will be 12 weeks, that is recommended by the World Health Organisations (WHO).
“We expect an additional supply of AstraZeneca vaccines to arrive in May for us to administer the second dose,” he said.
He reiterated that the risk of blood clots from the AstraZeneca vaccine is four cases per million doses of vaccines which is 0.0004 per cent, compared with 16.5 per cent if they are infected by COVID-19, 0.8 per cent for smoking cigarettes, and 0.05 to 0.12 per cent using birth control pills.
Meanwhile, Khairy also said that the AstraZeneca vaccine was also offered to the Sarawak government, following the state's concerns to hold its state election (PRN), so that the immunisation programme could be completed quickly before August this year.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Wed Apr 28 2021
Khairy said the move was made to address the peoples fears and concerns about the vaccine, apart from not wanting to disrupt the ongoing immunisation programme. -- BERNAMA
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Selasa, 17 September 2024.
Warga emas maut dihempap pokok
Seorang lelaki warga emas maut manakala cucunya cedera apabila dihempap pokok tumbang ketika sedang berkhemah.
Tumpuan Rabu – 18 September 2024
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan di Astro AWANI.
Belanjawan 2025: Kerajaan fokus strategi stabilkan inflasi - Fadillah
Kerajaan Persekutuan akan memfokus kepada beberapa strategi dalam menstabilkan inflasi sekali gus menangani cabaran kenaikan kos sara hidup rakyat dalam Belanjawan 2025.
Ketua Menteri Delhi Kejriwal letak jawatan, pembantu utama sebagai pengganti
Ketua menteri Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, meletak jawatan pada Selasa dan digantikan oleh pembantu utamanya Atishi Marlena.
AWANI 7:45 [17/09/2024] - Definasi halal semakin berkembang | Tiada sejarah ke luar negara | Ibu bapa sudah dikenal pasti | Jumlah mangsa meningkat
#AWANI745 malam ini bersama Essan Yahya;
1. Sijl halal bukan lagi soal babi dan alkohol, kata PM
2. Kes terbaharu mpox di Malaysia
3. 392 kanak-kanak jadi mangsa GISBH, ada ibu bapa enggan akui anak
4. Banjir di Kedah dan Pulau Pinang semakin memburuk
1. Sijl halal bukan lagi soal babi dan alkohol, kata PM
2. Kes terbaharu mpox di Malaysia
3. 392 kanak-kanak jadi mangsa GISBH, ada ibu bapa enggan akui anak
4. Banjir di Kedah dan Pulau Pinang semakin memburuk
AWANI Ringkas: Tujuh PPS dibuka di Pulau Pinang
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
LLB beri amaran jangan hampiri pantai, R&R Bagan Ajam
Gabungan air pasang besar berserta hujan lebat dan ribut menyebabkan fenomena ombak besar yang menghempas kawasan tepi laut Pulau Pinang terutama di sekitar Pantai Bersih.
Banjir di Kedah semakin memburuk, bilangan mangsa cecah 1,018 orang
Situasi banjir di Kedah makin memburuk selepas bilangan mangsa mencecah 1,018 orang daripada 268 keluarga yang ditempatkan di 11 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di negeri ini.
PM mahu persediaan mantap dilakukan menjelang kepengerusian ASEAN 2025
Perdana Menteri berkata Malaysia perlu menjadi peneraju hebat dengan menyusun pelbagai program yang benar-benar memberi kesan mendalam kepada komuniti ASEAN secara keseluruhannya.
Kalau nak jadi PM, KJ perlu ikut keberanian Anwar ‘lawan’ AS - Zaid
Anwar sedar risiko yang dihadapinya jika 'melawan' AS tapi itulah jalan untuk menjadi pemimpin Islam terkemuka kerana Malaysia hanyalah sebuah negara kecil yang tiada suara besar di pentas dunia.
KJ tak dapat sertai, Syed Saddiq tamat larian KBHM 1 jam 46 minit
Ahli Parlimen Muar, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman berjaya menamatkan larian Kota Bharu Half Marathon (KBHM) di sini pada Sabtu.
Khairy, Syed Saddiq sertai Kota Bharu Half Marathon 2024
Khairy Jamaluddin dan Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman antara 2,055 peserta yang bakal memeriahkan Kota Bharu Half Marathon (KBHM) 2024 Sabtu ini.
Khairy selar tindakan Speaker gantung Wan Ahmad Fayshal
Khairy Jamaluddin menyelar tindakan kerajaan menggantung Ahli Parlimen Machang, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal selama enam bulan.
Laporan Ketua Audit Negara ada kelemahan, penemuan tak tepat - Khairy
Khairy berkata terdapat juga laporan LKAN yang ditulis berjela-jela sehingga memberi persepsi seolah-olah sesuatu sumber itu dibazirkan.
IMD: Pertama kali di kedudukan lebih rendah berbanding Thailand, Indonesia
Khairy Jamaluddin berkata, pengumuman mengenai ranking itu merupakan satu berita kurang baik untuk negara dan kerajaan.
KJ minta Fahmi kekal di landasan sebagai jurucakap Kerajaan Perpaduan
Khairy Jamaluddin berkata, tindakan Fahmi menyebabkan pengumuman tersebut tidak mendapat respons baik, sebaliknya menjadi bahan ejekan.
KJ dilantik salah seorang pengarah di Fischer Medical Ventures Ltd
Khairy dilantik atas kapasiti Pengarah Bebas Syarikat untuk tempoh lima tahun bermula 4 Mei 2024.
Bukan rombak satu FAM
Ridzuan menegaskan rombakan tersebut tidak perlu dilakukan untuk semua jawatan dalam badan induk bola sepak negara itu.
KJ tak terfikir untuk kembali ke FAM
Khairy berkata terdapat calon-calon lain yang lebih layak untuk menerajui badan induk itu berbanding beliau.