As most of Klang district's adults have received their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Klang's large scale vaccination centres (PPV's) have accomplished their initial goal to achieve herd immunity. These vaccination centres are due to be closed down from 22 August onwards, leaving one last large-scale PPV, which is located at Wyndham Acmar that will mainly provide vaccinations for migrant workers.
As the 'eye of the storm' of the COVID-19 pandemic, Klang district had set up a total of 7 large-scale PPVs, which includes - Wyndham Acmar, Hokkien Association Klang, Premiere Hotel, Pandamaran Sports Complex, Kemuning Utama Hall, Sokka Gakai Hall, and Dewan Kelab Kilat Pangsapuri TNB Kapar.
All seven of these PPVs could vaccinate up to 17,300 people per day, with Wyndham Acmar serving up to 6,000 people per day.
Pandamaran state legislator YB Tony Leong Tuck Chee had confirmed with Klang District Health Office that the closure was confirmed.
He also stated that apart from the large PPVs, private clinics that previously provided vaccinations will also cease their vaccination services. The decision was made by the Ministry of Health. As most of the locals have been vaccinated, the need for vaccinations will be greatly lowered. Hence the government had decided to adapt accordingly and redirect these resources on other critical issues.
"Compared to a month ago, the demand for vaccinations have lowered significantly. Currently, we mostly receive inquiries from business owners who seek help in vaccinating their migrant workers."
He also said that most locals who seek for help are those who had previously tested positive for COVID-19, or listed as a close contact to a positive patient that made them miss their vaccination appointments.
If you have already received your first dose, don't worry, you will be sent to government clinics or district health office for your second dose. If the demand for the second dose is overwhelming, residents may also be directed to private hospitals for their vaccinations. At the moment,
the Ministry of Health is in discussion with two private hospitals to accomodate these needs.
Klang Member of Parliament Charles Anthony Santiago is appealing to the government to revoke the closure of five vaccination centres (PPV), leaving only one COVID-19 inoculation facility for the people in the town.
He said a semblance of herd immunity had yet to prevail as the numbers of those vaccinated in MySejahtera did not match the reality on the ground.
Santiago said based on MySejahtera, 796,313 people in Klang, above the age of 18 had registered for their inoculation and 90 per cent of that number or 716,682 had received their first jab or appointments as of Aug 3.
"But the reality is Klang has a population of 1.3 million and to reach 90 per cent coverage you would need 1.17 million people to be jabbed. If you deduct 1.17 million with 716, 682 people who have been vaccinated and/or given their appointments, a simple calculation would show a shortfall of 453,318 to make the 90 per cent mark," he said at a press conference on 21 August.
The third-term MP also said that the figures meant that about 35 per cent of Klang's population had yet to be vaccinated.
He also said many missed and changed their appointments because of the PPV being crowded and for other reasons.
Santiago said that the high rate of infections in Klang did not correspond with the MySejahtera data that 90 per cent of the population had been vaccinated.
Reference Links -
[1] China Press
[2] New Straits Times
[3] JKJAV