AstraZeneca on voluntary basis the right call, say activists
PETALING JAYA: Health activists have welcomed Putrajaya’s decision to roll out the AstraZeneca vaccine on a voluntary first come, first served basis. While they agree that reports of blood clot complications among recipients of the vaccine deserve attention, they say such cases are “extremely rare” and that allowing people to…
PETALING JAYA: Health activists have welcomed Putrajaya’s decision to roll out the AstraZeneca vaccine on a voluntary first come, first served basis.
While they agree that reports of blood clot complications among recipients of the vaccine deserve attention, they say such cases are “extremely rare” and that allowing people to choose the vaccine rather than forcing it on them was a good approach.
Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye pointed out that under the main stream of the immunisation programme, people could not choose a vaccine. Unfavourable publicity on the AstraZeneca vaccine could therefore deter people from enrolling in the programme, he said.
“Overall, the AstraZeneca vaccine is still effective, safe and beneficial,” he told FMT. “If recipients, especially those above 60, want to get vaccinated earlier, they can go for it.”
Galen Centre CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib said the opt-in voluntary stream for the AstraZeneca jabs would allow many who are anxious to be immunised to get the vaccine, complementing the MySejahtera registration process.
“The government has decided on a pragmatic approach,” he told FMT. “The vaccines are there. They have been certified as safe and effective by the NPRA (National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency).
“Let the people have the option of getting vaccinated earlier with the AstraZeneca vaccine or wait for their turn through the MySejahtera process.
“This separate opt-in voluntary stream has the potential to accelerate the vaccination uptake, like what could happen if a private option were to be offered.”
The government made the decision to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine on a voluntary basis because of public concern over cases of thrombosis among recipients in European countries. Some of those countries have put the jabs on hold and some have stopped administering them.
Azrul said the odds of developing thrombosis from the vaccine were only 0.0008%, much lower than when taking contraceptive pills (0.05%), smoking (0.18%) or getting infected with Covid-19 (16.5%).
He said the opt-in plan strengthened the case for providing people with a private option for vaccines.
“The experience from running this opt-in stream will help inform the government’s decision on allowing the private sector to procure other vaccines after their approval from NPRA.”
Lee said Putrajaya should consider allowing the private sector to take over the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine for those willing to take the jabs. — Free Malaysia Today