CITF mulls designated jab centres for foreign workers

The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) is considering the need to designate several vaccination centres (PPVs) to cater for foreign workers according to language, so that the vaccination process can be conducted more smoothly.

CITF, in a statement, said the move was to enable the stationing of translators or volunteers at these stations to tackle the problem of overcrowding at PPVs caused by large numbers, which would violate the SOPs.

“The failure of foreign workers to fill out the forms and download the MySejahtera application has caused the process to take a longer time.

“Every foreign worker needs more than five minutes to fill out the form, which causes congestion at the registration counter. There are interpreters who help, but the process is still time consuming,” it said in comments on the congestion that had occurred at many PPVs in the Klang Valley.

It said the congestion also occurred when a large number of vaccine recipients did not follow the appointment time given, for example coming in the morning when the appointment time was in the afternoon.

To prevent the same problem from recurring, the CITF is also working with the police to block vehicles such as buses from outside the Klang Valley, carrying either foreign workers or Malaysians en masse, to get vaccinated in the Klang Valley.

The CITF has also amended the appointment dates for some vaccine recipients to reduce the number of attendees, so that congestion stemming from communication problems involving foreign workers can be avoided.

“As a result of this move, overcrowding at the PPVs involved, especially in the afternoon, has been reduced today, and the matter will continue to be monitored to enable appropriate action to be taken from time to time,” it said.