JOHOR BARU, May 31 — KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital became the first private hospital to start administering the Covid-19 vaccine on residents here.

It is among four private hospitals in Johor Baru serving as vaccine administering centres. The others are one each in Kluang, Batu Pahat and Muar. 

KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital chief executive officer Mohd Azhar Abdullah said its vaccination exercise was expected to provide 200 doses of the vaccine per day, hence realising the government’s aim of increasing the number of vaccine injections to 150,000 per day within the next two months.

"We are proud and happy of being chosen as a vaccination centre. This is part of our contribution to the nation in ensuring that Malaysia would eventually be free from the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said in a statement today.

According to him, over 100 of the hospital’s trained health workers would be placed at the centre for a smooth vaccination process while strictly adhering to the standard operating procedure set by the Health Ministry.

Mohd Azhar said the vaccination is being offered for free under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme and the public is advised not to rush and crowd the private hospitals involved to get vaccinated.

"The procedure of getting vaccinated at the private hospitals is the same as that at the government hospitals or other community vaccination centres with registration to be made first through the MySejahtera application,” he added. 

In Ipoh, while the Perak Community Specialist Hospital (PCSH) has become the first private hospital to be a vaccination here, members of the public are advised not to visit the centre without a prior appointment because walk-ins are not accepted as the vaccination is based on the MySejahtera app.

PCSH in a statement said Perak Chinese Maternity Association (TPCMA) president, Datuk Lee Hau Hian said the centre, managed by PCSH doctors, nurses and staff, would operate from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

"The recipients are advised to arrive at the PCSH within 15 minutes (but not earlier) of their pre-assigned vaccination time to allow physical distancing and the vaccination process will follow the same procedure and practices of the government vaccination centres.

"There will be 100 recipients per day. Today, the recipients comprise those aged between 84 and 101 years. The oldest two are a male (Cheong Chee Teik), residing in Taman Song Choon, and a female (Yong Siew Yin), who is from a Nursing Home in Ipoh. Both are aged 101,” he said.

Lee also said that currently, the Sinovac vaccine was being used and supplied by the Gunung Rapat Health Clinic.

"PCSH is proud to assist in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, consistent with its mission as a not-for-profit hospital, providing affordable yet quality healthcare to the community,” he added. — Bernama