Walk-in vaccine shots to achieve herd immunity target - Free Malaysia Today

KOTA BHARU: Walk-in vaccinations will be made available to individuals nationwide, but only after those who have already registered receive their vaccine shots.

National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this was among the government’s strategies to achieve herd immunity by the end of the year.

“We are confident that after dispensing (vaccines) to all those who registered for appointments, we will open the vaccination centres (PPVs) to walk-in individuals, for example in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

He said that through this approach, the authorities are expecting the vaccination exercise to be expedited to achieve the government’s 80% herd immunity target by the end of the year or earlier.

“Under the ‘walk-in’ concept, those who have not registered can walk-in for an appointment at the PPV,” he said at a media conference with Kelantan menteri besar Ahmad Yakob after a state Covid-19 immunisation task force meeting at the Kota Darulnaim Complex here today.

Khairy also said the government would supply the CanSino vaccine to Kelantan next month to vaccinate residents living in the interior, including Orang Asli.

However, he said the total number of doses to be distributed will be announced after the government acquires the vaccine next month.

“The one-dose vaccine is important to facilitate the authorities in vaccinating residents in the interior, including Orang Asli, in Gua Musang, Kuala Krai and so on, as there will be no need to enter the areas twice,” he said.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was reported recently as saying the CanSino and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which only need one dose, have been approved for conditional registration for emergency use.

He said the approval was given at the 359th meeting of the health ministry’s Drug Control Authority two days ago.