Covid-19: Employers encouraged to organise workplace vaccination booster drives

PETALING JAYA: Employers are encouraged to arrange for their employees to receive Covid-19 booster shots under ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd’s Vaccination Centre (PPV) Outreach Programme.

In a statement, ProtectHealth said the programme provides a more controlled and easier way for employees, especially those working in factories and were immobile, to receive their booster jabs.

"The PPV Outreach Programme is one of the ways to expedite the booster dose vaccination, focusing on targeted groups and sectors for a short-term programme of one day to seven days, depending on the number of vaccine recipients.

"Previously, most employees would go to the PPV but for now, employers can opt to set up a vaccination drive for their employees.

"We also encourage private medical practitioners (PMPs) and healthcare NGOs to collaborate with employers and community leaders that wish to do the targeted vaccination at their place, workplace or at the factories to increase the vaccination coverage," said ProtectHealth chief executive officer Datuk Dr Anas Alam Faizli.

Companies and associations may request with PMPs or healthcare NGOs that have registered with ProtectHealth to conduct the PPV Outreach Programme for their employees or members.

Costs of vaccines were borne by the government and provided free of charge, and employers were not allowed to charge their employees any fee for receiving their booster shots under the programme.

"ProtectHealth would pay the PMP and Healthcare NGO for each vaccination given and the provider is to be paid for full clinical services.

"Employers are not allowed to charge the vaccine recipients and they should provide appropriate venues and non-clinical infrastructure for the PMP and healthcare NGOs to conduct the vaccination drive,” said the statement.

To date, 111 PPV Outreach programmes have been conducted, with 69 conducted for employees at workplaces and 42 held for communities.

On Jan 9, Malaysia administered 107,848 booster shots in a day.

So far, 7,809,058 booster shots have been administered in the country.