The science, technology, and innovation ministry’s Covid-19 immunisation task force, in a statement today, said some of the vaccine recipients, who were supposed to get their jabs at 6pm, had come four hours earlier.
A number of members of the public had also gathered there to try their luck at getting the jabs. This probably followed speculation that some of those not on the list were allowed in to get the jabs.
FMT had reported earlier that confusion reigned outside the vaccination centre as there were no proper directions on where to queue. It was reported that things were better inside the hall with proper signage and seats for the vaccine recipients.
The task force said they were very concerned about crowd safety and comfort, especially with the current high number of Covid-19 cases.
It urged those with appointments to come to the vaccination centre 15 to 30 minutes before their given time slots.
It said those who had received their vaccine shots should not linger and must leave the building quickly to reduce overcrowding.
It was earlier reported that the vaccination capacity at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur had been increased to 8,100 doses a day.
Coordinating minister in charge of the vaccination programme Khairy Jamaluddin, who paid a visit to the centre, had said persons under investigation (PUI) and close contacts to Covid-19 patients have to stay at home, and their vaccine appointments would be rescheduled.
He added this was to reduce the risk of them infecting others at the centre.
Stick by MySejahtera info, vaccine recipients told
ProtectHealth Corporation chief executive officer Anas Alam Faizli said the congestion at the entrance to the building was believed to be caused by vaccine recipients not adhering to the time set for their respective appointments.
All they have to do is follow the MySejahtera appointment time, he said. MySejahtera will show the station number, one, two or three, and they will be able to know where to queue up.
He said things had improved after the immunisation task force allowed the use of the queue management system whereby recipients are given a queue number that will be used until the vaccination process is completed.
Anas said almost 30,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine had been used by all the vaccination centres. The other centres are at Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and the Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam.