I REFER to Wong Chun Wai’s column and fully agree with his assessment (“Turning the tide on a tiny terror”, On the Beat, Sunday Star, Jan 10; online at bit.ly/star_tiny).
Large numbers of tests mean that results will be delayed. So by the time results are available, the positive cases may have already infected families, work colleagues, and the community if they have not been strictly staying at home.
Even those undergoing home quarantine, if they move freely in the house, may infect their family members. those affected people may then spread the virus to others. So contact tracing becomes impossible and control slips beyond our hands. We have done too little too late.
Only mass vaccination offers hope. Allowing the private sector to import vaccines, especially from China, would allow mass vaccination without any hassle since most large pharmaceutical firms have established cold chain logistics. If the price is reasonable and controlled, those who can afford it will readily avail themselves of the vaccine. Surely Malaysia’s 4,000 plus GPs are willing to help.
It would also save the government money and trouble to source, distribute and supervise the injection. At this time of urgency, the health of the rakyat matters most. All other considerations must be secondary.
We have a ready and efficient system that can fast track vaccination at zero cost to the government and help stem the surge of cases that threatens to overwhelm our healthcare facilities. Why wait?
DR TEY HS
Muar, Johor
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