SIBU, May 9: Future voluntary recipients of the Covid-19 vaccine have been told to keep to their vaccination schedule so as to avoid a repeat of an incident which occurred here on May 7.
Chaos prevailed at the vaccination programme at the Sibu Indoor Stadium on May 7 with no social distancing among the hundreds of recipients and poor observance of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
It happened as many vaccine recipients did not follow their set vaccination schedule by turning up hours earlier at the stadium.
Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee coordinator Dr Annuar Rapaee, in his Sibu Covid-19 update via Facebook Live last night, expressed his disappointment with the chaotic situation at the stadium on Friday.
“I have received many messages from people including children of the recipients and local elected representatives on disorderly situation on Friday morning at the stadium. They complained that there was no social distancing among the recipients,” he said.
The Nangka assemblyman said this happened as those scheduled to receive their vaccinations in the afternoon came in the morning.
“The appointment for the vaccination is arranged by the Health Ministry — 150 recipients for every hour. However hundreds of them came at the same time. Those for the afternoon turned up for the morning session and thus crowded the place,” he said.
He advised future recipients to exercise patience and keep to their scheduled time slots.
“If your appointment is at 12 noon, there is no need for you to come in the morning. Come 15 minutes earlier is good enough,” he said.
Dr Annuar added that the authorities would not cancel the names of recipients from the list if they came late, only for those who did not turn up at all.
In response to a viewer asking whether those on the waiting list could be given the vaccine if selected recipients turned down the opportunity, he said the priority now is for frontliners numbering 300 to 400 which includes media personnel.
On Saturday (May 8), 11 reporters aged 50 and above were jabbed with Covid-19 vaccines.
This followed as 20 recipients who are aged 75 and above who had to be turned down for vaccination due to their respective health condition. — DayakDaily
