Vaccination May Be Passport To Travel Says Pm

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Muhyiddin Yassin (right) and Khairy Jamaluddin field questions from reporters after the launch of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme handbook today. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has encouraged the public to register for Covid-19 vaccination to reap the long-term benefits of being inoculated.
Speaking at a press conference after the launch of the national Covid-19 immunisation programme handbook today, he pointed out that almost all countries were taking part in vaccination efforts to manage the global health crisis and revive their economies.
Citing how other countries might require an immunity passport for travel in the future, Muhyiddin said the vaccination would be “advantageous” for those seeking to travel overseas once international borders reopen.
“When countries come to a stage where most people have been vaccinated, then there could possibly be a need for a certain form of passport if you were to travel, to prove that you have been vaccinated.
“If you are not vaccinated, of course, there could be constraints for you to move around,” he said.
Muhyiddin did not explicitly reveal if Malaysia would apply similar requirements, but said certain premises in the country might prioritise customers who have been vaccinated in the future.
He said not everyone will be vaccinated and the medical history of individuals will be screened for allergies and suitability prior to being given the vaccine.
“Those who are not suitable for receiving the vaccine will not be given the jab,”  he said, adding that recipients would be monitored for 15 to 30 minutes before being allowed to leave the vaccination centre to ensure there are no serious allergic reactions.
He also revealed that all MPs and assemblymen would receive the Covid-19 vaccine in the first phase of the immunisation programme, beginning at the end of this month.
“Because of the nature of their work, we agreed that MPs and assemblymen, regardless of which party they belong to, will be given the vaccine in the first phase to enable them to carry out their duties effectively and safely.”
He said the government was also considering vaccinating media personnel and teachers in the first phase of the programme, according to requests by the National Union of Journalists and the National Union of Teaching Services.
“If we believe they are at risk if not vaccinated, we will consider them as among the first recipients of the vaccination programme,” he said.
Earlier today, Muhyiddin revealed that the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine will arrive in Malaysia on Feb 21, followed by the rollout of vaccines on Feb 26.
Science, technology and innovation minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also coordinating minister for the immunisation programme, said 300,000 doses have been allocated for medical frontliners in the first phase of vaccinations.
The government has also allocated another 200,000 doses for non-medical frontliners, which include security personnel, welfare officers and politicians, said Khairy. - FMT

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