Rare kind of trip to heart of KL

I WAS one of the lucky few among my peers who secured an appointment when the AstraZeneca vaccine opt-in registration was open to the public for the second time.

I received my first vaccine shot on June 21, followed by the second one on Aug 23.

In anticipation of my first dose, I arrived at the Putra World Trade Centre light rail transit station 40 minutes before my appointment at 4pm.

It was an unfamiliar area to me, so I depended on directional signage and arrows to guide me towards World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), which had been converted into a vaccination centre.

Upon reaching the WTCKL entrance, I looked around for Station 3, as instructed in my MySejahtera app.

It was like a maze inside the centre but the volunteers, as well as the arrows, signs and dividers, were there to guide us along.

The volunteers repeatedly reminded us to scan the MySejahtera QR code and practise social distancing as we sat in the waiting area.

In no time, it was my turn to enter the big exhibition hall upstairs.

I was given two forms and a card to fill in. The forms were identical and there was a number stapled together with them.

I listened to the instruction as I filled in the forms. Basically, everyone had to fill in their particulars and reconfirm their health status.

There were two forms because one was meant for the person at the counter for official use and the other was for my record-keeping.

The delicate ringing to signify a number had been called never stopped.

I panicked a little when I saw my number pop up on the television screen as I had not completed the second form yet.

In haste, my handwriting looked terrible but thankfully, the worker at the counter did not make a fuss about it.

As I set off to the next station, I felt like I was having a tour around the place.

Along the way, I saw people of different races discussing the side effects of the vaccine and giving each other advice.

At the identity confirmation area, I presented my MyKad to the worker who asked me a few questions to verify my identity.

He proceeded to sanitise the thumbprint scanner before asking me to place my thumb on it.

Then off I went to another station, where three were assigned to the same table for a consultation with a nurse or doctor.

The doctor briefly introduced the vaccine we were about to receive before asking us a few questions.

She also checked our forms and answered our enquiries.

We were then ushered to the vaccination area.

To my surprise, two stations shared a compartment which was the size of a small convention booth.

I went in, sat down and pulled my sleeve up automatically.

The nurse tapped me on my shoulder gently as I put my bag down.

She showed me the bottle which contained the vaccine and told me that she was going to inject the first dose on my arm.

Fully vaccinated: Carrie Ann received both vaccine doses at the WTCKL vaccination centre.

I had to scan the QR code first so that it would be recorded in my MySejahtera app.

Having asked me to relax my muscles, she rubbed some alcohol on my arm and did the jab swiftly. It took less than a minute and it was surprisingly painless, even when she taped a cotton ball to the spot.

It was only five minutes past four when I walked to the observation area.

Placing my form at the counter, the worker told me to take a seat and wait for my name to be called.

Fifteen minutes later, one of the volunteers called seven of us to the front. We gathered in a circle near her as she cheerily asked how we were doing and advised us on the dos and don’ts in the few days to come.

She described some of the symptoms we might face and emphasised that it was crucial to go to a clinic or hospital if we were experiencing more serious and uncommon after-effects.

With that, we were allowed to go home. As I made my way out, a lot of people were taking selfies at the photo booths set up around the centre.

During my second appointment, I was only required to go through three stations: identity confirmation, vaccine shot and observation area.

The most important thing to do after receiving your second dose is to check whether you have the digital certificate in your MySejahtera app to prove that you have already completed two doses.

Each time after getting both doses, I had a slight fever and the injection site was sore for 12 hours. Apart from that, I did not suffer any other symptoms.

I firmly believe that those eligible should be vaccinated if their health allows it. If you have any doubts, seek advice from a doctor instead of relying on hearsay or shying away from the vaccine altogether.

Getting vaccinated would be a level of protection to reduce the seriousness of the symptoms in the event that you are tested positive for the coronavirus.

Carrie Ann, 20, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. Throughout the year-long programme, participants aged between 14 and 22 from all across the country experience life as journalists, contributing ideas, conducting interviews, and completing writing assignments. They get to earn bylines, attend workshops, and extend their social networks. To join Star-NiE’s online youth community, go to facebook.com/niebrats.

1. Test your Covid-19 vocabulary knowledge!

How well are you able to explain the meanings of these words?

Refer to a dictionary if you are unsure of their definitions.

pandemic

cluster

asymptomatic

social distancing

quarantine

ventilator

essential worker

mask

lockdown

comorbidity

personal protective equipment (PPE)

2. Now, get a family member or friend to play this word guessing game with you.

Discreetly, pick three of the words or phrases listed above to work on individually. In your Star-NiE scrapbook, provide clues to the words.

The clues could be in the form of pictures or written words. You may even use pictures from The Star or words from a dictionary to help you.

When you are done, reveal your clues to the other player. Is he or she able to guess the words or phrases you have chosen?

Example: Guess the word!

Picture clue:

Word clue: Equipment used by healthcare workers to protect themselves while caring for Covid-19 patients; this includes masks, face shields, gloves and other coverings.

3. These are some words that are often used in news reports of Covid-19 vaccination. Do you know their meanings?

immunisation

inoculation

booster shot

immunity

vial

administer

If you have received your vaccine shot(s), write about your experience in not more than 150 words, using at least two of the words above. Email your writeup, along with a photograph (optional), to us at [e-mail].

Remember to provide your full name, age and the state you are from.

By submitting an entry, you stand a chance of being featured on this page!

Since 1997, The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme – with the Education Ministry’s endorsement – has supported English language teaching in primary and secondary schools nationwide.

Through Star-NiE’s teacher and student workshops, annual contests and monthly English language resources for classroom use, participants of the programme have reportedly shown marked interest in the language and progress in their proficiency.

Starting this month, Star-NiE will continue its role of promoting the use of English language through a weekly activity page in StarEdu.

These activities are suitable for use individually and in groups, at home and in the classroom, across varied proficiency levels. Parents and teachers are encouraged to work on the activities with their children and students. In addition, Star-NiE’s BRATs Young Journalist Programme will continue to be a platform for participants to hone and showcase their English language skills, as well as develop their journalistic interests and instincts.

Recruitment for the BRATs 2022 programme will start in November. Follow our updates at facebook.com/niebrats. For Star-NiE enquiries, email [e-mail].