Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Koh Kar Chai and former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said vaccine recipients should instead contact the PPV nearest to them to get their appointments for the booster doses.

“The halt on walk-ins is to prevent the emergence of Covid-19 clusters from PPVs,” Koh told FMT.

He said vaccination by appointment would ensure an orderly procedure.

He also said he did not anticipate a change in the rate of vaccine wastage in the event that people did not show up for their appointments.

Lee agreed, noting that the government would call up people at short notice to replace the no-shows.

He also said the appointment system should be tidied up. “There should be a follow-up confirmation to a vaccine recipient at least one week before the vaccination date,” he said.

“At the same time, a system must be in place to accommodate those who are concerned about the type of vaccine they will receive for their booster shots.”

He said private clinics and public medical centres should be used to their fullest in the administration of booster doses and mega PPVs were not needed because there was no need to speed up the vaccination rate.

Effective immediately, walk-ins for booster shots would no longer be allowed at off-site vaccination centres, according to ProtectHealth Corporation, the government company which manages the immunisation programme.

The decision comes in the wake of reports of long queues at various vaccination centres in the Klang Valley and Penang.