Relief a side effect of Covid-19 jabs

The mobile vaccination drive is instrumental in boosting the government’s efforts to ramp up its National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme. — Filepic

THE “badges of honour” filling our social media feeds these days are photos of friends and families with frames declaring “I’ve been vaccinated”, “#vaccinated”, “I’ve received my 1st / 2nd dose” and so forth.

One friend even dubbed it “the most well-known post-vaccination side effect”, in reference to social media posts each time someone received their Covid-19 jabs.

The physical side effects of the vaccination among people I know are varied – some only experienced pain in the injected arm while others have had more severe ones such as fever, headache, joint or muscle pain, tiredness and insomnia.

Strangely, some said they had the “munchies” and found themselves snacking more than usual.

Jokes aside, there is a certain truth to “the most well-known post-vaccination side effect.”

Those who had already been inoculated would likely be congratulated and asked about the type of vaccine they received.

On the other hand, those who want the vaccine but have yet to be vaccinated and have not received their appointments may feel left out or frustrated, as they wonder when their turn will come.

It is understandable for yet-to-be-called senior citizens or those in the older age category to feel upset, especially those who registered early, upon knowing that younger people or those with lesser health risks have already completed their vaccinations.

Fortunately, National Covid-19 Immuni-sation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin has since announced that senior citizens in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, who have not received their vaccination appointments, can walk into any Covid-19 vaccination centre (PPV) in the Klang Valley to get their shots beginning July 17.

He, however, stressed that this was meant only for those who still did not have an appointment date.

Malaysia is ramping up its vaccination campaign through several initiatives, with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announcing recently that the national immunisation programme aimed to ensure all Malaysian adults receive their two vaccine doses by October.

One such initiative is the mobile vaccination programme that goes to the homes of people with limited mobility such as the disabled and infirmed, densely populated housing areas such as people’s housing projects (PPR) as well as the interiors and rural areas where transportation is a problem.

More community halls and neighbourhood clinics are being turned into PPV, thus offering easier accessibility for locals.

Collectively, immunisation efforts by state governments, government agencies and non-governmental organisations are also helping to speed up inoculation of people across diverse vulnerabilities and economic sectors.

They include market traders, hawkers, public transportation and e-hailing drivers, p-hailing riders, teachers, childcare workers as well as those in the SME, food and industrial sectors.

As further encouragement, shopping centres and restaurants, among others, have come up with incentives for the benefit of the “vaccinated” public.

These incentives include a free item upon minimum purchase, free membership renewal, discounts (some offering a higher rate for the second jab) and even parking rebates.

Meanwhile, Selangor residents who keep their vaccination appointment have the added incentive of a RM20 Grab rebate for a round-trip ride to any PPV in the state or in Kuala Lumpur.

Getting an appointment can sometimes feel like striking the lottery, as I have observed among family and friends.

Some people could be checking their MySejahtera app several times daily and there would be no updates.

Then suddenly, they would get an appointment for the very same day.

The time given could be either a couple of hours ago or within the next few hours.

Those whose appointments were backdated would literally have to drop everything they were doing (if possible) to rush to the PPV.

Those who have a few hours’ notice would have to rearrange their day’s schedule to make it for their appointment.

I was fortunate enough to get a few days’ notice for my first vaccination appointment.

While that did require me to rearrange my schedule since it fell on a working day, I made sure that I went for it.

And when I left the PPV, it was with a sense of appreciation for the efficiency and professionalism shown by the medical personnel and volunteers on the job.