Forced to spend two extra days in quarantine

I FEEL for letter-writer AJ whose story I could relate to, “Plea for help to update vaccination status” (The Star, Feb 10; online at bit.ly/star_update). I am in a slightly different predicament but the worry and concerns are the same.

I received by first two doses in Malaysia and got my booster overseas. I returned to Malaysia in December last year and have since been calling up and visiting various agencies to get my booster information uploaded in the MySejahtera app.

I have contacted the Helpdesk in the app and submitted the information as required, three times so far. Nothing has changed.

I was overseas recently and upon returning, I was placed in quarantine. At the airport, the physical proof of getting the booster dose was accepted, but the MySejahtera app still showed no changes. And so my quarantine period was set for seven days instead of five for those who had received their booster shot. The officer on duty at the airport said it would change automatically, but, as expected, it didn’t.

On day five of my quarantine, I performed the duties required and was supposed to be “released”. But I was unable to change my status simply because the booster shot information had not been uploaded on the MySejahtera app. I was therefore unjustifiably quarantined for two extra days.

Here is my question: come March 1, my status will probably show “not fully vaccinated” and I will be deprived of the things I need to live my life normally. Should I then get a second booster dose so that I can be allowed access to facilities and services?

If I become ill from taking a second booster dose, which is not yet needed, will the Health Ministry take responsibility? So many questions with no answers.

I am not alone in this situation; there are hundreds more, according to the officer at the Kelana Jaya Health Department in Petaling Jaya. Is Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin oblivious to these issues? They might seem minor, but they can pose a major problem to those affected. Can we have some affirmative action to resolve these problems with MySejahtera, please?

BKI

Kuala Lumpur