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On site vaccination for workers will begin only when there is enough vaccines – KJ

May 7, 2021 1:04 pm
Santhy Ayadurai

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 – The COVID-19 vaccination programme for the manufacturing sector and related services sector will commence only when there are enough vaccines for the general public in phase three and not when vaccines are in short supply, said Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Khairy Jamaluddin.

Responding to queries on his Twitter on whether vaccination has begun for the services sector, Khairy, who is also the coordinating minister for the country’s COVID-19 immunisation programme, said the programme currently was in the state of registering expressions of interest.

He also explained that the programme was mooted under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme to offer vaccinations at big industrial sites/factories. This will prevent factory workers from having to come to PPVs and for vaccinations to be done in situ.

And this programme will be rolled out with via a public-private partnership where factories will pay for the cost of setting up in situ vaccination sites, medical staff while the government will provide the vaccines free.

On April 27, the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers in a statement gave details of the proposed two models that would be followed for the sector under the vaccination plan following a consultation session organised by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) with trade associations and chambers of commerce on April 26.

Details of the two models, agreed upon by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Committee overseeing the National Vaccination Programme, are as follows:

1. Model 1 – Public Private Partnership (PPP) Immunisation Model (On site vaccination)

  • Targeted at local and foreign workers from manufacturing and related services sectors ONLY
  • Minimum threshold of 1,500 employees including contractors/vendors, etc who work on-site who are already registered on MySejahtera application for the vaccination either per company or per site (if a group of companies within a certain location/industrial estate come together to make up the 1,500 person threshold)
  • Registration to express interest to participate under Model 1 will open on May 1, 2021 via https://vaksincovid.gov.my. Alternatively, e-mail to: vaccine4industry@miti.gov.my. (Provide details including company name; number and list/details of employees already registered via MySejahtera; possible vaccine management centre location; etc)
  • In-line with the PPP model, Government will cover the vaccine cost only while companies will have to cover the vaccine administration cost including management of company panel/public doctors (approved by Protect Health) and the Vaccine Management Centre according to MOH’s specifications. Details of the costs are still being finalised and will be updated in due course.
  • The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) – Manufacturing and Related Services comprising of MITI, MOH and MOSTI will assess each application prior to giving a decision on the application including the next course of action.
  • Currently only the Sinovac vaccine is available for this Model.

2. Model 2 – Private Immunisation Model (Special Request) for Business Travellers

  • Targeted at business travellers that require prioritisation and have proof of importance of travel – Locals or Expatriates (Employment Pass holders) and Board of Directors
  • Application by company for the individuals will be open from April 28, 2021 via email to vaccine4industry@miti.gov.my. In the email, company to indicate interest in vaccination for specific business travellers, number and details of employees looking to travel and strong justification/purpose of travel by each of these individuals.
  • The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) – Manufacturing and Related Services comprising of MITI, MOH and MOSTI will assess each application on the need for prioritisation and may request for more details prior to giving a decision on the application.
  • There will be no special treatment for APEC Business Travel Card holders.
  • Vaccination will be administered either by company panel (approved by Protect Health), Protect Health panel doctor or hospital/clinic identified by MOH, the cost of which will have to borne by the company. Government will only bear the cost of the vaccine.
  • Currently only the Sinovac vaccine is available for this Model.

–WE