PETALING JAYA: Over a million people have already registered for the Covid-19 vaccine via MySejahtera, and the app will include new features to become the one-stop centre for the national immunisation programme.
It will also cater to those who do not have smartphones and thus cannot instal the app.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had earlier said that the registration process for dependants will be rolled out in mid-March.
“The facility will enable children to register their parents who do not have MySejahtera, ” he told a previous press conference.
Meanwhile, those who are selected to receive the jab in the second and third phases will be notified by the app of the date and location of their vaccination appointments, according to MySejahtera’s Helpdesk.
The handbook on the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme added that the monitoring of side effects after vaccination can also be done via MySejahtera.
“The monitoring of side effects and adverse effects following immunisation (AEFI) will be carried out through enhanced surveillance, where vaccine recipients will receive a scheduled notification or reminder through the MySejahtera app so they can report any AEFI experience, ” the handbook noted.
The app, which has been instrumental in containing Covid-19 outbreaks with its contact tracing feature, will continue to play a vital part in the country’s battle against the pandemic by now supporting users in the vaccination programme.
Khairy said that over one million people registered for the vaccine via the app within four days of the vaccination registration feature being made available on Feb 23.
“More frontliners are receiving their jabs. It’s safe, it’s effective.
“Let’s end the pandemic. Take the vaccine. Register today, ” he tweeted.
According to the MySejahtera Helpdesk, non-frontliners have to activate push notifications to be informed when the next phase of vaccinations begins.
If users are selected for the vaccination, they will receive a push notification through the app that they have to click on to answer the screening question.
Most Malaysians have described the registration process as easy and fuss-free, though some have indicated that clearer instructions would have made the experience even better.
Retired civil servant Alexander Ananda Jothy said the registration was straightforward and that he was waiting to be able to register his wife, whom he listed as a dependant on the app.
“She doesn’t have the app downloaded in her name on the phone, so she can’t register for the vaccine independently.
“By allowing vaccine registration for dependants to take place on the MySejahtera app, it would be more convenient for those without phones, ” he said, adding that a few of his neighbours have also brought up this issue.
Photographer Sia Hong Kiau, 52, said that she was able to register her husband, who is from Myanmar with permanent resident status in Malaysia.
“It was an easy process. I helped him key in his details and he was successful in registering his interest in getting vaccinated, ” she said.
Church worker Danielle Cheng, 27, said the process was simple but certain instructions could be better presented so that it would be more intuitive and user-friendly.
“For instance, after I clicked on the vaccination icon, there were a few options on the screen but it did not clearly state that I need to click the first one in order to register.
“There was a bit of fumbling around and clicking on different buttons to see what would happen.
“I was then directed to a page that said I would be notified when phase 2 starts, but which also told me to click on the link to provide additional details.
“So I was not sure if I was already registered at that point or if I needed to provide more details in order to be registered, ” she said.
Brian Chung concurred, adding that while it was a fairly straightforward process, there were some parts that caused slight confusion.
“I would appreciate it if they had clear notifications that I could register my interest or to inform me what my next steps are, ” he said.
Gilbert Tang, 64, said he signed up for the vaccine on MySejahtera because he was in the high risk group and was concerned about his well-being.
“My dad died of pneumonia back in 2015 and our family has a history of heart ailments.
“I had a bad experience when I was with my father during his last days when he was struggling to breathe through an oxygen mask.
“After experiencing this, I decided that I would sign up and take the vaccine as I do not want to suffer like my father did, ” he said.
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