ALL SLOTS FOR ASTRAZENECA VACCINES TAKEN UP - BFM interview (3 May 2021)

BFM description:

 All the doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine were booked in less than 4 hours yesterday following the government's decision to supply it on a first-come, first-served basis in KL and Selangor. We look at the impact this move will have on our National Immunisation Programme.

Produced by: Kelvin Yee

Presented by: Sharmilla Ganesan, Lee Chwi Lynn

listen below for the full interview:

https://www.bfm.my/podcast/evening-edition/evening-edition/all-slots-for-astrazeneca-vaccines-taken-up

1. How do you think the voluntary AstraZeneca will impact our national rollout overall?

 

Yesterday’s registration for the AstraZeneca vaccine, I would say, is a public display of confidence for the government’s vaccine portfolio and the immunisation programme. I saw, according to news reports, all 268 thousands of vaccines were all snapped up in less than 4 hours. Obviously, the ‘opt-in’ option provided by the government is a resounding victory for addressing the concerns by many initial doubters about the safety of this particular vaccine.

 

2. What does the enthusiastic pickup rate tell us about sentiment surrounding vaccination, particularly in the Klang Valley?

 

While we are waiting for more statistical analysis from the government about the general trends and profiles of those who signed up yesterday, the sensational sentiment might signal to the whole country that there are people eagerly wanting to have vaccination much earlier than later.

If I were to guess about those people who signed up, I would suspect many youth and middle age adults are dominant ones among them, and they do not mind taking up Astrazeneca. Whereas those who have more doubts and reservation, are probably those who are currently in the phase 2 of our national immunisation programme.

It is an irony, because all these vaccines arriving this time are supposedly for these demographic groups in Phase 2 but the negative publicity about the blood clot incidents now scare them the most especially about the AstraZeneca vaccine. No matter how hard the government is trying to persuade them about the actual risk and ask them to register, it is to no avail. We know the vaccination registration process is still sluggish, the government does not want to waste the resource, and given the increasingly challenging pandemic in Malaysia nowadays, they decided to wait for no one. Hence, yesterday’s scenario is a win-win for all parties.

 

3. One comment this voluntary exercise has brought up is inequity. Those without tech devices and the internet were unable to access this raffle. How would you evaluate this method of vaccine adoption?

 

I would say that the exercise yesterday was a pilot test. Sure it is inequitable, because why can the vaccines only be distributed in the Klang Valley? And why must it be only online registration?

But the MOSTI minister Khairy Jamaluddin also told the press that another million doses of the same vaccine are coming this month, and it will be open to the whole country (except Sarawak which chooses to opt out). So, i hope with more doses open for opt-in, there would be other avenues for other less advantageous people to access the vaccine.

 

 

4. Does the interest over the weekend perhaps give data to the government to adapt their vaccine rollout?

 

Certainly, if many senior citizens and chronic patients are still hesitant and reluctant to come forward, perhaps the government can have another track for the registered participants in the phase 3 to be listed in the waiting short list, so to maximise the utilisation of workforce and resources in the 382 vaccine administration centres throughout the country.

Now it may start to make sense to have the participants in the phase 3 to get their shots earlier, since they are the most active and productive population which go to work, run errands and are more likely to socialise with more people.

 

5. Turning to the vaccination itself, what can people expect when they are at the centre? How can they prepare?

Once you are notified of the time slot for your vaccination, either via a notification through the MySejahtera app or an SMS, then you go for your appointment. Please bring your IC or passport and mobile phone if you receive your appointment via the app.

You may intend to do a pre-vaccination assessment with your own doctor or specialist before going for the appointment, if you have a history of weakened immune system, severe allergic reactions (or we call it ‘anaphylaxis’) or bleeding disorders. This applies to any vaccine you are going to receive.

At the centre, a doctor will assess your health to determine if you are fit to receive the vaccine. If you are given a green light, and have been administered the vaccine, please stay on for 30 minutes for observation. You will get your vaccination card or digital certification before you leave. Please continue monitoring for any adverse events following immunisation, and please report immediately to the health authority if you have found any severe one. For Astrazeneca vaccine, you should expect your second dose in 12 weeks, it is much longer than the other two vaccines currently in use.

 

6. What are some things to watch out for, after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine?

 

You should look out if you have any severe and persistent headache that could not be relieved  by simple painkillers, and you feel worse when lying down with probably other signs such as nausea and vomiting.

Do not take it lightly when you experience blurred vision, drowsiness, difficulty with speech or seizures. Shortness of breath or chest pain are definitely a big warning sign, you must report immediately to the health authority. Do check out if you discover any tiny blood spots under the skin, or if you have symptoms such as persistent abdominal pain or leg swelling.

 

7. What should people do if they experience side effects? Should they be taking medicine?

First of all, please make sure you are taking the day off for the immunisation day and do not do any strenuous exercise. You may need another day if you do not feel well the next day. If you experience fatigue, normal headache, dizziness or fever, please make sure you have enough rest to recover, eat and drink healthily. It is ok to use paracetamol or painkiller to deal with the symptoms. But if things go worse and could not be relieved by your ordinary medicine, please notify the health officers.

 

8. And when can someone likely expect their next appointment?

 

If you have successfully registered yesterday and chose your preferred centre and date, you might expect to receive notification about your appointment in 2 days. My friend had already received hers this morning!

If you are waiting for the next opening of slots, yes, please wait patiently for the official announcement. I guess when the doses finally arrive at our land, surely the process will kick start again.

 

9. After the first AZ dose, what are risk levels like? How protected is someone from Covid-19?

 

A Lancet study shows that the AstraZeneca vaccine can protect the person from symptomatic disease with the efficacy rate of 76% 21 days after the first dose, and the protective effect can last at least 90 days for the peak specific antibody level. Another big group study also shows that the vaccine can have an effect of 94% prevention of COVID-19-related hospitalisation 1 month after the first dose.

But to have the best protective effect, one is recommended to receive the second dose 12 weeks after, to improve the efficacy rate to 81% for preventing symptomatic disease.

It is true that a vaccinated person can be infected and most likely would be asymptomatic. However, vaccinated persons, even if just after the first dose, are at least 38% less likely to pass on the virus to unvaccinated persons. Instances of Covid-19 deaths and hospitalisations are rare, the same also goes to other major vaccines in the market.

 

 

10. Is there a change in the kind of SOPs you follow after?

 

I hope the government is not rushing to allow the idea of ‘immunity passport’ for interstate travels or large group meetings. WHO is firmly against the idea, I find very much in agreement with them.

People must realise that, although vaccination could prevent severe disease and hospitalisation, there are chances for people to get infected and maybe spreading the virus to other unvaccinated persons. So, I hope the government does not relax the SOPs because of the vaccination, at least not until the herd immunity of at least 80% population gets vaccinated, is achieved.