Residential Aged Care Operators Association (AgeCope) president Delren Terrence Douglas said these unregistered operators have yet to come out to enrol in the vaccination programme for fear that they would be penalised.

In a press conference with Penang assemblyman Lee Chun Kit today, Delren said there were only 100 unlicensed centres that have come out to register while hundreds more have yet to do so.

Delren said there are an estimated 1,300 unregistered centres in the country. He said only inmates at two old folks homes have been vaccinated.

“I say to these unregistered centres, don’t worry about being unlicensed, just come forward and get registered, and vaccinate your elderly folk. Don’t hide any more, it is crucial to be vaccinated, he said.

AgeCope’s secretary Muntoh Fong thanked vaccination minister Khairy Jamaluddin for his pledge that AstraZeneca vaccines would be given to inmates of elderly care homes soon, which includes vaccination for workers, too.

Earlier, Khairy tweeted that the vaccines would be made available for aged care homes.

Fong, however, hoped that Pfizer vaccines would be made a priority for the elderly. He said the AstraZeneca vaccines would likely be given to the elderly on a case-to-case basis, determined by medical advice.

Delren also hoped the government could communicate with operators to talk about logistics concerning the vaccination programme. He said most centres have nurses and other relevant staff to hasten the shots given and assist in the process of vaccination.

Health minister Dr Adham Baba earlier today revealed that there are 12 homes under the auspices of the government, 365 registered and 101 unregistered homes in the country. He also revealed that 17,535 inmates of aged care centres have consented to be vaccinated.