1,000 clinics, private hospitals to start giving vaccines by end-June

The government is aiming to designate 1,000 general practitioner (GP) clinics and private hospitals as vaccination centres (PPVs), to start administering vaccines before June 30.

National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this would enable these PPVs to administer vaccines, with a target of about 40,000 doses a day subject to vaccine supply.

“This is our target for private clinics (and hospitals), subject to vaccine supply. Previously, there was no need for private clinics and hospitals to be involved with the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme because the supply of vaccines was not plentiful.

“After this, when the supply of vaccines has increased, we want to facilitate private clinics and hospitals to administer vaccines through our programme for free,” he said after visiting the PPV at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre today.

Khairy said to date, a total of 1,800 out of 2,500 registered GPs had undergone training with ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd before opening their respective PPVs.

On the issue of prospective pilgrims who have been vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine, he said the government would discuss with the Saudi Arabian government, for flexibility to be given to the group.

Saudi Arabia currently only allows those given the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines to enter the country.

Khairy said prospective pilgrims under Tabung Haji who have yet to be inoculated would be given the Pfizer vaccine.

“I have also sought advice from our expert committee, if someone is injected with Sinovac can this person be injected again with Pfizer. I have yet to get an answer,” he said.

Khairy also announced that a new feature in the MySejahtera application would be added to allow users who receive the wrong date for the AstraZeneca vaccine appointment to cancel or change to a new date.