Vaccine recipients are covered

PETALING JAYA: Vaccine recipients are able to claim compensation – up to RM500,000 in case of permanent disability or death – in the unlikely event of experiencing severe side effects from the Covid-19 vaccine, says Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

The Health Minister said an initial allocation of RM10mil was set up under a fund managed by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), and would be open to Malaysians and non-Malaysians.

Up to RM50,000 will be paid out to those who encounter serious side effects and have to undergo long-term hospitalisation.

Up to RM500,000 will be paid out in the event of permanent disability or death.

“The government cares about the welfare of its citizens and vaccine recipients, and is also continuing efforts to build Covid-19 vaccine confidence, ” he said at a press conference yesterday.

The applications for this scheme, he said, would be assessed by three committees from the Health Ministry and would be approved on a case-to-case basis according to proof that the side effects were truly caused by the vaccine.

To date, the most common side effect experienced by vaccine recipients was pain around the area where the injection was administered, he added.

Other reported side effects were fatigue, headache, aches and fever.

Malaysia had not recorded any severe side effects from the vaccine, he said, adding that if a vaccine recipient displayed severe side effects, he or she would be taken to the hospital.

“The second dose of vaccine on such a recipient will be given at a hospital because it requires better observation, ” he said, clarifying that adverse reactions would include chest tightness and chest discomfort.

Adham also said 66% of the Covid-19 cases in the last two weeks were sporadic cases.

From March 8-21, there were 13,185 sporadic Covid-19 cases, which is the equivalent of 66.14% of total cases.

“The rest (33.8%) or 6,751 cases were linked to clusters that the ministry had announced, ” he said.

He added that from the total 19,936 cases recorded in the last two weeks, 69% were Malaysian citizens while non-citizens made up 30% of the cases.