KUALA LUMPUR: The move to inoculate those aged over 60-years-old with the AstraZeneca vaccine has caused concerns among Malaysians.

Many took to social media to voice their worries over allowing their parents and other senior citizens to take the vaccine even though the blood clot side effect was very rare.

Maidzaton Shalawati, who is currently a medical practitioner in Saudi Arabia, suggested the government use Pfizer for senior citizens as based on experience, even recipients in their 30s to 50s established strong side effects after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

"Based on my experience, I would say AstraZeneca is not suitable to use for Malaysians who are 60-years-old and above as the majority of the staff who are in their 30s to 50s established strong side effects such as fever, headache and palpitations. 

"Better use Pfizer for the elderly people, because when I made the comparison, friends who were inoculated against Pfizer, some experienced mild side effects and some did not experience any side effects," he said.

Ahmad Mohammad said: "Hope KKM will temporarily halt the usage of AstraZeneca, prioritise Sinovac and Pfizer."

Mohd Nazim Amin said: "Please don't use a controversial vaccine, I will not let my parents receive AstraZeneca."

Le Eleza Intan said: "If this is what my father, mother, grandfather and grandmother gonna get, will be forced to reject (vaccination)."

Muhammad Azim Azman said: "If this is what (is) to be given to the elderly, sorry, I will not allow my mother to take this, I do not want to risk my mother's life."

Zuera Aqila said: "Who's gonna take the responsibility if anything happens. I do not want to risk my mother and father's lives, lives cannot be replaced."

Chan SH said: "No one will let their parents take the risk, although the chances are slim but that doesn't mean there is no risk."

Km Cheong said: "Can foresee there'll be lot of elderly cancelling the vaccination or will not register for vaccination."

These concerns were voiced after Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah assured that the number of blood clot cases after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was rare.

"According to Health Ministry Clinical Research Institute director Dr Kalaiarasu (Peariasamy), blood clot cases are very rare and to date, there is no scientific evidence to link blood clot cases with the (AstraZeneca) vaccine.

"There have been 168 cases reported worldwide after more than 21 million people received the AstraZeneca jab," he shared on his Facebook account last night.

Dr Noor Hisham said the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency has approved the conditional registration of the AstraZeneca vaccine on March 2.

"Till April 25, only Denmark has stopped using the AstraZeneca vaccine, while 44 out of 99 countries that had approved the vaccine for emergency usage continued using it with conditions.

"Malaysia will use it for senior citizens aged 60 and above along with Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines, this is based on clinical data from other countries," he said.

Yesterday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and it will be administered to senior citizens.

Last Saturday, Malaysia received its first batch of 268,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the global COVAX facility.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/04/685831/malaysians-take-social-media-voice-concerns-over-astrazeneca-vaccine