Everybody, or so it seems, is talking about the vaccines that have been developed to combat Covid-19 and how soon these will be available. Some are talking about possible side effects, others about the cost per vaccination.
My question is whether vaccination will be made mandatory in Malaysia?
What if someone does not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19? Will that person be forced to get a vaccination to “protect” others around him or her?
This is not like other tested and proven vaccines, such as the BCG, or bacilli Calmette-Guerin, for tuberculosis prevention, and so individuals may reject it. Covid-19 vaccines – even if 95% effective in trials – are a rush job.
What will the government do if, say, a company were to insist that all its staff be vaccinated or face dismissal? What if new employees are required to have a Covid-19 vaccination before joining some company or other? Can they refuse? What if a bus company were to insist it will only carry those who have been vaccinated?
In my conversations with people, almost invariably the question of the safety of the vaccines that will be used has been raised. Not everyone trusts the pharmaceutical giants. And not everyone is convinced the best brains are studying the possible effects and side effects of the vaccine on Malaysians.
As one person told me: “We are followers. If the Americans or the World Health Organization say it is okay, our government will say it is okay. Our genetic makeup, diet, and local conditions are different from those in the West.”
Another asked who would be held liable if someone suffered severe side effects five or ten years after being vaccinated.
The concerns are genuine. There is fear, especially over vaccines that play with the cells within us to enhance our immunity.
But both the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Khairy Jamaluddin and the director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah have said Malaysians would not be made “lab rats” and that the vaccines would only be used if proven safe.
That is reassuring.
In fact, Khairy added: “I would like to emphasise that the vaccines must be deemed safe and efficacious by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) under the ministry of health before we execute the agreements (with vaccine producers) and begin the vaccination process.”
He also said the government had set aside RM3 billion to fund the vaccination programme, with an initial target of 70% of the population so that herd immunity could be achieved.
Noor Hisham said on Nov 30 that the first report of a phase three clinical study on a Covid-19 vaccine from one of the ten vaccine producing firms which had negotiated with Malaysia previously would likely be known next week.
He said one of the conditions for the purchase of any vaccine was that it must first be licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration and Malaysia’s NPRA.
It is possible that Malaysia may get its first vaccine from Pfizer as Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced recently that the government had signed a deal with the firm for 12.8 million doses of the vaccine.
Noor Hisham assured: “The research has to show a level of efficacy we can be satisfied with and also without any side effects, this is the most important, and these steps apply not only for the Covid-19 vaccine but other vaccines for other diseases as well.”
Last night, commenting on the UK government authorising the vaccine by Pfizer for use in emergency cases, he categorically said Malaysia would not follow suit. “In Malaysia, we will not make any exception to use the vaccine for emergencies. This is to ensure the safety of all.” That, doctor, is very reassuring.
It’s better to be safe than sorry, even in an emergency.
Most of the ordinary people I spoke to were happy to note that the vaccine was on the way, with some saying they’d be glad to get back to the normal, pre-pandemic life in two or three months. I am finding it hard to disabuse them of this notion.
There are still some things about the vaccines we do not know, including possible long-term side-effects and how long the immunity will last after vaccination.
I’m no medical expert so I checked the website of the US’ Centers for Disease Control and it clearly says the vaccination alone is no guarantee of protection.
The CDC says it will take time for medical experts to learn more about the protection that Covid-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions and that it will, therefore, be important to continue wearing masks, ensuring physical distancing and using other tools available to stop the pandemic.
In fact, Noor Hisham had said in September that even when the vaccine was available, people would still need to maintain health SOPs.
So, it doesn’t look as if the SOPs can be dropped anytime soon. We may have to spend much of next year, perhaps even the whole of next year, also wearing masks and keeping our distance. We are not going to return to the pre-pandemic normal anytime soon, if ever.
I hope the government will get this message across more emphatically to the public. There is need for an information campaign regarding the vaccine and people’s expectations and fears.
I also hope the government makes it clear as to how the vaccination programme will be rolled out, including how it will be distributed and whether it will be free for everyone and if not how much it would cost.
In addition, there has to be a specific body, with a web presence, to which those receiving the vaccination can report any side effect they may encounter.
Also, I hope the government or the health authorities state clearly whether vaccination will be voluntary or compulsory.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not reflect those of FMT.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR LIVE UPDATE OF THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN MALAYSIA