‘Many AZ opt-ins came from same IP addresses’

PUTRAJAYA: Early investigation into complaints over the registration of AstraZeneca opt-in vaccination slots showed that a large number of applications were made through several same IP addresses, including Selangor government’s SELangkah app.

The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) said it received complaints from individuals who were given appointments for AstraZeneca vaccination even though they did not make any booking when the opt-in slots were opened on Wednesday.

“Checks and initial investigation carried out by the task force showed that several slots for AstraZeneca vaccines were reserved on behalf of others in large numbers, without getting their consent, especially whether they accept the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“CITF found that the reservations were made from several same IP addresses.

“CITF contacted one of the parties that made a large number of slot bookings which is SELangkah, ” it said in a statement yesterday.

CITF said SELangkah had acknowledged that it had been making reservations for AstraZeneca vaccination slots without checking whether individuals in the ImuniSEL database agreed to accept the vaccination.

This resulted in the change of vaccination appointments of those who had already been given dates to be vaccinated at certain vaccination centres.

“SELangkah has given its assurance to work with CITF to resolve these issues and ensure those involved would be given back their old appointment dates, ” it said.

SELangkah, however, denied any involvement in the matter.

Its chief executive officer Tengku Iesta Tengku Alaudin said SELangkah was never contacted by CITF on the matter as claimed by the task force.

“The accusation is baseless. SELangkah will not hesitate to take legal action against any parties who issued baseless accusations with the intention to tarnish our reputation, ” he said in a statement.