The task force denied that the involvement of general practitioners in the national immunisation programme had been discontinued.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Medical Association had questioned why CITF had given 48 hours notice to stop vaccination appointments at 741 private clinics, several private hospitals and ambulatory care centres in Selangor.

MMA president Subramaniam Muniandy said GPs should be involved in the final lap of the country’s vaccination exercise.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had also said yesterday that the decision to stop vaccinations at private clinics had been made against his advice and “contrary to my proposal to increase the participation of GPs”.

CITF said today that “GPs’ involvement in the future will be considered in ensuring continuity to the national Covid-19 immunisation programme as no more PPVs (vaccination centres) will be operational at that time.”

It said the full adult population in the Klang Valley had received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and there was no need for so many vaccination centres, which included those involving GPs.

CITF said that 107.7% of the adult population in the Klang Valley had received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose as of yesterday, including undocumented residents and non-residents.

It said 12 vaccination centres in the Klang Valley were closed today, and 21 more would be closed from Aug 23 to Aug 29.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said CITF should have consulted with public health officials before deciding whether to close the centres.

He disagreed with CITF’s assessment of how many people had received their first dose, stating that the figure on the ground in Klang was closer to 65%.

“I don’t think consultations are taking place … and decisions are being made by people in air-conditioned rooms,” he told FMT. “A large chunk of people remain unvaccinated, so let’s not make a mistake which we will regret later.”