Spearheaded by the NGO’s chairman, Ras Adiba Radzi, the initiative allows OKUs and their carers an alternative to signing up through the MySejahtera application and get them inoculated as soon as possible.
Ras Adiba, who is a senator, said more than 1,000 people had signed up since the link for the initiative went live yesterday.
“The names we gather will be submitted to Mosti (the ministry) and they will be called and given dates for their vaccinations,” she told FMT.
“This is specifically under OKU Sentral. We are encouraging all OKUs to sign up, we are open to all categories of disabilities.”
She said the ministry would make a “wider” announcement soon.
Vaccine coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin had earlier assured the OKU community that even those at centres not registered with the social welfare department (JKM) would be eligible for the vaccine.
“We will leave no one behind. I have decided to make vaccinations available to all OKU care centres, including those not registered with JKM,” he said last Tuesday.
“No action will be taken against unregistered centres, so no one should fear coming forward for their vaccinations.”
Khairy said that under Phase 2 of the national immunisation programme, mobile units had been sent to some OKU care centres to vaccinate the residents.
Other outreach initiatives include setting up a vaccination centre at the Malaysian Association for the Blind in Brickfields, and providing a “calming room” for neurodiversity care centres to cater to vaccinations for those with autism.
Those interested in signing themselves or somebody under their care for vaccination may do so here.
Meanwhile, women, family and community development minister Rina Harun said the number of persons with disabilities who have registered for Covid-19 vaccination up to yesterday stood at 195,395 or 33.8% of the total number of 577,352 nationwide.
She said as the number was still low, advocacy and awareness would be increased through more cooperation with NGOs to assist the disabled to register.
“There are two issues, registration and administering the vaccine. I hope more of the disabled will register to receive the vaccine through this effort.
“Discussions are also being held on providing drive-through vaccination to the disabled.”