Why, I asked myself as I read the report, would more than 52,000 people across seven states not turn up for their Covid-19 vaccination appointment.

According to Utusan Malaysia, the highest number of people who missed their vaccination appointment – numbering 10,827 – were from Kedah. This was followed by Pahang (with 10,000), Kelantan (10,000), Perak (9,009), Negri Sembilan (6,323), Melaka (3,612) and Perlis (3,000).

Among the reasons given by some of those who missed their appointments to health officials were: they were out of town or not ready for the jabs or were undergoing quarantine.

Others said they didn’t check their MySejahtera app or that they had no transport or that they had no one to accompany them or that they did not know how to check notifications sent to them on the app. Some said they did not want the Sinovac vaccine.

Obviously the government must review the registration and notification process. For instance, did notifications on the date and time of inoculation reach the registrants and were they notified early?

In fact, the health ministry should look at ways to make it easier for people to register for the vaccination. Think of the many older or less digitally skillful people. The authorities should learn from the recent foul-up with the AstraZeneca vaccine registration process and improve the entire system.

I wonder if some or all these reasons are just excuses due to their fears or uncertainties over being vaccinated and the efficacy of the vaccines.

Health minister Dr Adham Baba was reported as saying that the government might impose fines on those who did not show up for their vaccination appointment. He said the ministry was discussing this possibility with the National Security Council.

That’s not the way to go. You are only going to make people more fearful and resentful. As I’ve previously said, the government should enhance efforts to inform and educate people on the efficacy and need for the vaccines.

The government must understand that vaccine hesitancy is not just limited to Malaysians. Many governments are grappling with the same problem.

I’m not aware of any nationwide study done in Malaysia on vaccine hesitancy, although the authorities have said that the number of registrants was below expectation.

Actually by now one or more of our public universities should have done Covid-19 pandemic related studies to help the government make better decisions and policies, but what can I say about our universities that others haven’t?

However, a study on a sample population of poor families in Projek Perumahan Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur by the United Nations Children’s Fund and United Nations Population Fund found that only 63% were willing to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Perhaps it’s time to emulate nations and state authorities which are offering incentives to their people to get vaccinated.

The biggest incentive of all is being offered by the state of Ohio in the US: five inoculated adults stand to win US$1 million each in a state lottery. In fact the first lucky winner – Abbigail Bugenske – was announced on May 26.

Also, teenager Joseph Costello was the first to win one of five full four-year scholarships to any Ohio state college as part of a lottery for 12 to 17-year-olds who have been vaccinated.

Ohio’s incentives appear to be working as the number of people queuing up for their first dose rose by 33% after the announcement of the lotteries.

The White House announced on May 13 that Uber and Lyft would provide free rides to and from vaccination sites from May 24 to July 4. Why doesn’t Putrajaya try this? It won’t cost much.

Serbia is offering to pay citizens the equivalent of €25 to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

In India, North Delhi’s municipal council is offering a 55% rebate on taxes to residents who get vaccinated. This too is doable in Malaysia. Putrajaya could get the various local authorities to offer rebates on assessments or the land office to offer rebates on quit rent.

The city of Detroit in the US has a Good Neighbour programme where it gives a US$50 debit card reimbursement to anyone who drives someone with transport problems to and from vaccination centres.

The state of New Jersey, also in the US, is offering a glass of free beer to anyone getting a jab while California is entering the names of teens who get inoculated in a lottery draw for college scholarships worth US$10,000 each.

Business operators – especially restaurants – in various countries are offering a plethora of incentives to encourage vaccination.

For instance, in Gujerat, India, goldsmiths have got together to offer women who get vaccinated a free gold nose ring while men get a hand blender.

In Malaysia too, several eateries are offering special discounts or free food – such as tau foo fah, a cup of soymilk, coffee, avocado smoothies and cheesecake – to those who can show they have been vaccinated. Sure, these are nothing to shout about but an offer is an offer.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT