Rightways: Immunization

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Convincing the non-believers for vaccination

With the Covid-19 vaccine rollout starting soon, the onus is on the government to engage the fence sitters.

RECENT news that Indonesia has made Covid-19 vaccination for its citizens compulsory has given rise to speculation that Malaysia could follow suit.

With the National Covid-19 Immunisation Plan around the corner, the government machinery has swung into gear to convince the people that vaccination is the only way out of this pandemic that has imprisoned our lives.

The government has already hinted of fines for those who decline the vaccine and there is also a possibility that individuals who reject the vaccination could have their movements restricted. This means that they will be barred from entering business premises or restaurants.

While there are no plans at this time to draw up legislation to make it compulsory for everyone to be vaccinated, the sledgehammer approach may not be as effective as we think.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) believes that making vaccines compulsory is counter-productive, as it will increase vaccine hesitancy that is already present.

I believe that Malaysians can be divided into three categories: proponents of the vaccine, anti-vaxxers and the fence sitters, people who though unopposed to taking the vaccine, are yet to be convinced that vaccination is essential for herd immunity.

It will be nigh on impossible for the government to convince the anti-vaxxer movement. They may be small in number, but these fellow Malaysians, like others around the world, are dead set against the vaccination plan.

In fact, some of these anti-vaxxers are also Covid-19 deniers. They believe that the pandemic is a conspiracy that has been exaggerated by the media and that Covid-19 is a hoax.

So no amount of cajoling or threats are going to make them change their minds. It is the third category that the government should focus on – Malaysians who are wary or unsure of taking the vaccine.

There needs to be a massive public relations drive to reach these fence sitters. From vaccine safety issues to side effects, from registration protocols to logistical challenges, the government needs to address the concerns of this segment of the populace. Public education is going to be key, not harsh fines, penalties and sanctions.

And it should not only be government agencies that embark on this blitz. Key opinion leaders, influencers and NGOs should be roped in to assist in this, our biggest ever immunisation programme.

Of crucial importance is getting the vaccination message across to the rural areas and not just our urban centres.

The government made the right move by also allowing free vaccinations for foreign workers. There must now be a concerted effort to get undocumented foreign workers to also come forward to receive vaccines. There could be as many as a million undocumented workers in the country, and if they are not vaccinated, our objective of reaching herd immunity will not come to fruition.

It should be pointed out that we will not be taking shortcuts to achieving herd immunity.

The Pfizer vaccine that will arrive on Sunday requires two doses, 21 days apart. Even though other countries have spaced this out to as much as eight weeks, thereby vaccinating a greater number of people, Malaysian authorities have already confirmed that they will stick to the manufacturer’s recommended dosage.

But in the race to vaccinate its populations, we are already behind many countries.

For example, more than 15 million people in the United Kingdom have already received their dose. This works out to almost 24 doses per 100 residents.

In the United States it’s 16 doses per 100 and in the European Union as at mid February it is five doses per 100 residents.

Surprisingly France, which has one of the best public healthcare systems in the world, has been slow to administer vaccines to its population. This could be because of the strong anti-vaccine sentiment in the country.

A poll last year revealed that only 54% of French were willing to be immunised.

So, that should be a concern for our government too. We need to do our best to combat anti-vaccine propaganda because we have no time to lose.

As more of the world is vaccinated, travel bubbles will open up. Soon travellers will be required to show a digital health passport, possibly via an app on your phone that proves you have been vaccinated.

This may be the only way travel restrictions will be lifted.

As more companies roll out vaccinations, Covid-19 doses will eventually become as common as a flu shot. That is a reality that Malaysians must expect and embrace.