By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 21: Over 30 private general practitioner (GP) clinics and seven private hospitals in Sarawak have registered with Protect Health Corporation (PHC) to assist in rolling out Covid-19 vaccine shots to the public on appointment basis as per MySejahtera app system.
Minister for Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian revealed that the PHC, which is owned by Ministry of Health (MOH), has informed that since May 4, more than 30 GP clinics and seven private hospitals have joined the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP) in Sarawak.
“(I) was told by Protect Health Corp from KL, seven hospitals in Sarawak have registered to help vaccinate the public. (And) Since May 4, more than 30 GP clinics in Sarawak had also registered.
“(While the vaccines are offered) free to the public, Protect Health (will) reimburse RM14 to the doctor (healthcare provider) for each vaccination,” he shared in his Facebook post last night.
This effort, he said, will boost vaccination drive in Sarawak and Kuching Division especially as there are currently only three Covid-19 vaccination centres rolling out vaccines for the second phase in Kuching with mass vaccination conducted at Indoor Stadium while Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and Sarawak Heart Centre for patients they follow-up with.
However, Dr Sim who is also State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor, pointed out that walk-in vaccinations are not allowed as the vaccine shots are given based on appointments arranged by MySejahtera apps.
“Appointment arrangement is the same, (which is) arranged by them (MOH) via MySejahtera app,” he explained.
He thus advised those who have registered for vaccination to check their MySejahtera app on appointment notification.
“When appointment notification appears on the app, click ‘Accept’. (According to MySejahtera, if there is no click of acceptance after 48 hours, the appointment will be cancelled and you will go back to the queue for the next arranged time, to reduce delays for others who are supposed to come after you),” he advised.
Highlighting that it is normal to have some very mild reactions post-vaccination such as fever, chill, lethargic, stomach upset and mild pain after the second dose of vaccine, Dr Sim advised patients to take two panadols every six hours for the next one to two days if necessary.
“The benefit of vaccines in time of Covid-19 crisis is a lot more than the inconveniences. Despite the minor reactions, it will greatly protect you, your family, our community and Sarawak from heading towards the path like the case of India,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had last Wednesday announced that Sarawak has been given the green light to rope in private hospitals for the State’s vaccination drive especially in urban areas.
With this measure, he said that this would speed up the vaccine rollout for the public while corporate companies can also make arrangements with the gazetted private hospital for their employees to be inoculated. — DayakDaily
