Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations of Malaysia (FPMPAM) president Dr Steven Chow said health ministry hospitals and facilities should continue prioritising the vaccine for those with higher risks.
However, he told FMT the same rule should not be applied for private general practitioners (GPs), whom the government has roped in for phases two and three of the national immunisation programme.
“GPs should be empowered to vaccinate anyone requesting to be vaccinated and filter out those where vaccination is contraindicated. Achieving critical mass as soon as possible is the best way forward.
“Creating a priority list at the GP-level will hinder rather than enhance the rate of vaccination,” he said, adding that involving GPs in the nationwide programme from the get-go would help the nation reach critical mass.
Critical mass refers to when a big enough percentage of the population is immunised so as to achieve herd immunity.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said risk assessments were a better approach, but added that the criteria should be agreed upon by experts outside the health ministry too.
He also called for greater transparency on the selection process and for individual characteristics such as age, comorbidities and potential exposure to the virus to be taken into account.
On the lacklustre number of registrations for the vaccine, Subramaniam proposed that the MySejahtera app send push notifications to those who have yet to register.
“Once there is an adequate supply (of vaccines), just send people who have yet to register a notification of vaccination date and ask them to accept or refuse (the appointment),” he told FMT.
Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, said the rollout of the third phase should just be focused on getting as many people vaccinated as possible.
“That means those who come forward should be vaccinated regardless of their status. The emphasis should be less on bureaucracy and more on ensuring that people get vaccinated,” he told FMT.
Azrul said people were unsure if they were listed among those considered for the immunisation programme, predicting that it would take a while to get even half the population registered.
“The further they perceive themselves to be from the date of vaccination, the less likely they are to register despite it being easy to do so.”
They were commenting on Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow’s suggestion for the vaccines to be given on a first come, first served basis to encourage people to register for the immunisation programme early.
An aide to science, technology and innovation minister Khairy Jamaluddin confirmed with FMT that the health ministry would be prioritising vaccines based on risk assessments, such as red or yellow zones, for the third phase.
If individuals are in the same risk category, then it will be a first come, first served basis with earlier registrants prioritised.
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