PETALING JAYA: The first day of the influenza vaccination drive for senior citizens was off to a good start, with slots at over 100 government health clinics across the country all taken up.
A check on MySejahtera showed that 146 health clinics were fully booked while some were running out of slots.
Almost all government clinics in the Klang Valley, Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan and Johor were fully booked.
Terengganu and Perlis were among the states with the lowest uptake.
A retiree, who only wanted to be known as Lee, said he registered for the flu jab as soon as the Health Ministry announced the vaccination drive.
He signed up on Feb 14 and got a slot yesterday.
“I have been following the news on the influenza outbreak abroad. Then there were also reports about the death of a celebrity (who died on Feb 2 of a flu-related illness at age 48). So, I wanted to get the jab as we have a trip to Japan soon,” he said.
Lee hoped the government would continue to provide annual flu vaccinations for senior citizens and other high-risk groups.
“Otherwise, the people may have to get it done at private clinics for a fee.
“This may discourage some senior citizens from getting the jab; RM90 is not affordable for many,” said the former teacher, who received his flu shot at a health clinic in Kuala Lumpur.
Last week, the Health Ministry said that Malaysians aged 60 and above suffering from at least one chronic condition – such as diabetes, respiratory diseases, heart disease, hypertension and kidney illness – could get the vaccine for free starting yesterday.
The initiative is expected to benefit about 170,000 senior citizens.
K. Ramani, 67, said her son helped her register for the flu jab on the MySejahtera app.
“My son advised me to get the jab although the cases are not that high in Malaysia.
“I have diabetes and heart disease. So it is better to take the necessary precautions,” said the grandmother of four, who got her jab at a health clinic in Gombak.
“The process was smooth and it did not take long,” she added.
Senior citizens are not only turning to government health clinics for the flu jab. Some of them opted to do so at private clinics.
Lecturer Dr Norain Othman, 65, said she took the flu jab earlier in preparation for an umrah trip last month.
“It is a requirement that we fill in a medical book and provide proof of vaccination. So, I went to a clinic that offered the vaccine.”
She received her jab at a private clinic in Shah Alam, paying RM120 for it.
As for side effects, Norain said she only experienced mild body aches for a day or two.
She said the flu vaccination gave her an added sense of security, especially when she was in a crowded environment during the umrah.
“At my age, I can be more vulnerable to diseases carried by people from all over the world because of my weaker immune system.
“I am not in the best of health, as I have diabetes and high blood pressure,” she said.
Norain also said her niece, who had travelled to Japan, caught the flu when she returned and was later diagnosed with influenza.
