Playing our part as Malaysians

Every bit helps: A volunteer explaining the Covid-19 vaccination process in sign language to a group of deaf and mute people at the Malaysia Association of the Blind vaccination centre in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

By Dr VENOO KUPPUSAMY and Dr KHOR SWEE KHENG

WE have always known that the rakyat has a crucial role to play in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).

In this column, we explain why the rakyat’s role will soon be more crucial than ever and why our fate is now closely tied to the PICK.

The main reason is that the four-phase National Recovery Plan (NRP) has vaccination rates as one of three key indicators (combined with daily case numbers and intensive care bed utilisation) for transition to subsequent phases.

Phase Three of the NRP is when the situation becomes as close to normal as possible. To get to this phase, we need at least 40% of the population to be vaccinated.

The PICK started on Feb 24. After four months, we have completed vaccinations for only 7% of our population. We were mainly limited by supplies but since this is expected to increase soon, this excuse will disappear.

This month and next will be the most crucial part of the PICK for three reasons. First, this is the intermediate phase to move from Phase One to Phase Three for most industries and for education, sports and social activities to resume.Second, we will need to significantly increase the speed of vaccinations to between 390,000 and 430,000 doses a day, compared to the current 200,000 doses a day.

Third, we are aiming to vaccinate the most people per month this month and next (six million) compared to an average of one million people per month previously.Not achieving this target will mean a longer delay in resuming normal life, a harder impact on the current economy and a prolonged burden on our healthcare system.

SOPs and vaccination

For these reasons, the rakyat’s role in the PICK will be more crucial than ever.

There are several things that we can do together. Firstly, we should follow the standard operating procedure (SOP). Wearing face masks, observing physical distancing and staying at home will help protect us and our loved ones.

These non-vaccine procedures will keep the spread of Covid-19 in check and ease the burden on our healthcare system. More focus can then be given to the PICK.

Secondly, the rakyat should register for the Covid-19 vaccination.

To boost vaccination, Israel is providing green passes and Hong Kong is creating vaccine bubbles that give more freedom to vaccinated individuals.

In Malaysia, the MySejahtera app and the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply website (vaksincovid.gov.my) are the primary sites for Covid-19 vaccine registration.

PICK coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin also recently listed out alternative registration procedures for industries and students going abroad.

Under the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (Pikas), companies from the manufacturing sector can register their employees for vaccination.

Vaccination can be conducted at the company’s premises under certain terms and conditions.

Pikas registration can be done through the International Trade and Industry Ministry website.

Students continuing their studies overseas can register for vaccination by emailing [e-mail] or through MySejahtera’s Helpdesk feature.

It is important that information on different registration platforms reaches everyone. Even though the media and official websites play a large role, no one can spread the information better than the rakyat.

The next time we chat with anyone, the immediate question following our greetings should be “Have you registered for vaccination?”Getting everyone we know registered for the Covid-19 vaccine will ensure that we are on track to achieve the NRP’s target.

Volunteers needed

Thirdly, the rakyat must play an active role in the PICK by volunteering for both medical and non-medical activities.

Delivering 390,000 to 430,000 doses a day is a massive exercise that requires many volunteers.

Those interested can apply through the Malaysia Vaccine Support Volunteers website (myvac.com.my), the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, St John Ambulance Malaysia or other recognised non-governmental organisations.

In countries like the United States, private companies have also stepped up to lend a hand.

For example, Amazon has opened pop-up clinics in Seattle, where its headquarters is located, to be used as vaccination centres.

Everyone can play a part. While medical volunteers handle vaccination and medical consultation, non-medical volunteers are needed to help with ushering, crowd control, registration, temperature and symptoms screening, as well as ensuring that SOPs are followed.

Volunteering can reduce the burden of medical personnel so that they can focus on medical- related needs during vaccinations.

But help doesn’t have to be extended at vaccination centres only. Small gestures, such as providing transport to vaccination centres for those in need or helping those who are not tech-savvy to register for the vaccine, can bring a huge impact.

Fourthly, the rakyat can volunteer for clinical trials. This is probably something new to many and may cause hesitancy among some.

Malaysia is currently conducting trials for Covid-19 treatment and vaccines. For example, we started a Covid-19 vaccine trial with the Institute of Medical Biology of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in January.

On June 5, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced that Malaysia would take part in a Phase Three Covid-19 vaccine trial by Shenzen Kangtai Biological Products.

These trials need thousands of healthy volunteers.

The volunteering process should also be made easier by the trial organisers. The UK National Institute of Health Research has a comprehensive online database system for volunteers to find suitable clinical trials.

It is important for clinical trials to have representation from different age groups, genders, races and communities.

Malaysians are under-represented in global clinical trials and real-time data on our volunteers will greatly assist the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency in reviewing and approving new vaccines and treatment for Covid-19.All the vaccines currently being administered in our country are the product of clinical trials with tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the world.

Citizens of other nations have done it; it is time for us to contribute on a global level as well.

Contributing together

PICK is one of the biggest human exercises in Malaysian history.

Vaccinating 30 million people is no easy feat. It involves procuring vaccines, approving new vaccines and coordinating vaccine administration centres, medical personnel and volunteers.

It is important for the rakyat to get involved, especially at this crucial juncture that requires so much to be done within a short time.

Through these four steps, we can do our part to help reopen our doors to normal life.

Dr Venoo Kuppusamy is a doctor, author and clinical research manager. Dr Khor Swee Kheng is a physician specialising in health policies and global health. The views expressed here are entirely their own. For more information, email [e-mail].