Seniors in Kedah facing difficulties getting to Covid-19 vaccination centres

92-year-old Shaari Sabu wants to get vaccinated but faces difficulty moving around and is worried he will not be able to get to the vaccination centre.

JITRA (Bernama): Some senior citizens here are facing mobility issues in getting their Covid-19 vaccine. It is clear they are not rejecting the vaccine as many have already registered for their shots, but some of them, particularly those who are bedridden due to chronic diseases or too weak to move because of old age, simply do not have the ability to go to the vaccination centres by themselves.

"I have already registered my name with the JPKK (Village Development and Security Committee), and now I am waiting my turn, but I am suffering leg pain, how am I going to get to the vaccination centre?” Shaari Sabu told Bernama when met at his house at Kampung Tanah Merah Dalam near here Friday (May 4).

The 92-year-old, who is affectionately known as Tokwan, said he faced difficulty getting to the centre because he cannot stand for too long due to gout.

Shaari said he received information on the Covid-19 vaccination from JPKK members and his granddaughter, who is always explaining the importance of receiving two complete doses of the vaccine.

Shaari said his wife Ropeah Man, 86, also needs help to move around or go out.

Sharing the same hardship is their neighbour Siti Noraini Yop, 50, who has been bedridden for more than a year after a stroke due to high blood pressure early last year.

Meanwhile, JPKK representative Azman Abu Hassan said the committee had raised the mobility issue among senior citizens with the District Officer and they are looking for ways to make things easier for them to get vaccinated.

"Alhamdullilah, the Kubang Pasu District Office and Jitra Hospital are very concerned about the issue and I was informed that they might get their vaccine shots at home, we are only waiting for the Health Ministry's arrangement.

"I have obtained the names of those who are bedridden or have problems getting to the vaccination centre and we will try our best to ensure that they will get their vaccine jabs, ” he said.

Kedah Health director Dr Mohd Fikri Ujang told Bernama that the number of vaccine recipients in the state has increased significantly.

"On the vaccination day, all vaccines are 100% utilised, ” he said.

The public in Kedah, especially senior citizens who have problems getting to the vaccination centre, are advised to inform the district immunisation operations room or contact the state Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force hotline at 04-702 6888. - Bernama