KPJ Sentosa KL Specialist Hospital trauma specialist nurse Hamizah Mohd Najib (left) and paediatrics specialist nurse Siti Saliha Muhi, with vaccine recipients Quinie Tan Lay Choo and her daughter Joyce Yap Zhi Yin at the PPV Mega Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
HEALTH workers and frontliners continue to risk their safety tending to people in need during this pandemic.
To support the National Immunisation Programme (NIP), the private sector has volunteered its services by providing manpower to assist in daily mass vaccination and venues to conduct the exercise.
Answering the call of duty, homegrown private healthcare provider KPJ Healthcare Bhd has deployed 1, 500 staff and volunteers at vaccination centres that it has set up at 22 of its hospitals and the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (PPV Mega).
Frontliners at PPV Mega Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre share their stories:
“Today is my birthday, but I am proud to be here as a vaccinator. Some of the people were nervous about getting vaccinated. Some cried with happiness after they got their shots. I feel touched when they say “God Bless You" after receiving their vaccination.” – KPJ Sentosa KL Specialist Hospital trauma specialist nurse Hamizah Mohd Najib, 32
“I was lucky to be selected as a vaccinator. I am glad to do my part as a frontliner. This gives me a sense of belonging as a Malaysian in a multi-racial society.” – KPJ Sentosa KL Specialist Hospital paediatrics specialist nurse Siti Saliha Muhi, 32
Dr Nur-Run explaining to a recipient the vaccination process at PPV Mega Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
“I am here to assist in educating people on the vaccine and to obtain their consent for the shot. We tell them about the vaccine’s protective qualities and possible side effects.” – KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital psychiatrist Dr Nur-Run Hussein, 45
Meanwhile, vaccine recipients relate their experience at PPV Mega Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre:
“It took only an hour. We got the Sinovac jab. The KPJ doctor briefed me on the vaccine dose, and that it is good information for youngsters and me. His explanation was very convincing. It was a relief for us.” – Homemaker Quinie Tan Lay Choo, 56, was vaccinated together with her daughter Joyce Yap Zhi Yin, 22, who was born with cerebral palsy
Jayapal’s wife Josephine Anita Sandanam, 47, accompanied him to get his shot at PPV Mega Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
“I was confident about getting the Sinovac jab because the doctor explained it very well. He was very considerate. He checked on me later to see if I experienced any side effect after the shot.” – Lorry driver, Jayapal Kandiah, 56
KPJ chief corporate officer Ariesza Noor shared that the key driver to the success of its PPVs across the entire KPJ Group is the staff.
“They remain dedicated and work selflessly to ensure the smooth vaccination of thousands of individuals each day.
“A key point is that regardless of rank or unit, each of us work closely as a team, to make sure the PPVs truly deliver. This is the KPJ spirit, and this will make us an even stronger team in the long term. To all staff members, a big thank you!"
KPJ chief transformation officer Suriaghandi Suppiah said that KPJ has its own call centre to contact people who have been given their dates, “while the hospitals have their own customer service units to ensure that people turn up for their vaccination.”
“From our tracking system, we found that between 10% and 25% of people are unaware of their appointment and location.
“As vaccination is important, we don’t want them to miss their appointment.”
Suriaghandi said KPJ would accommodate a recipient’s needs at the vaccination centres.
“We had an 80-year-old stroke patient who came in a wheelchair but she was uncomfortable. We placed her on a stretcher at the observation area, and personnel went there to give her her dose, ” he said.
KPJ regional CEO Dr Munirah Khudri said: ”For people who have severe allergies, are immunocompromised, or who have bleeding tendencies, we will advise them to see their primary doctor to be evaluated for their fitness prior to vaccination.
“They are likely to be rescheduled for vaccination in a hospital set-up, which will be more suitable for their underlying condition.
“Those with psychiatric conditions, anxiety disorder or bipolar disorder, we make the effort to calm them prior to their vaccination.”
She said the observation period after the jab is 15 to 30 minutes, to see if there is allergic reaction to the vaccine, adding that there are doctors and paramedics on standby and should the need arise, an ambulance would be summoned.
