KUALA LUMPUR: Care centres and old folks' homes are calling on the government to expedite full Covid-19 vaccination for the remainder of those in high-risk groups following the emergence of the highly infectious Delta variant.

They believe that while vaccinations are progressing steadily, they need to be accelerated even further.

Sang Riang Senior Citizens Welfare Home Management Organisation director Yap Yoke Moey said 180 out of 282 residents received their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while the others were still waiting for their appointments.

"The home houses people aged between 30 and 80, including senior citizens and cancer patients. 

"We are waiting for the remaining 49 people to get their appointments as they, too, belong in the high-risk group."

While lauding the government's move to prioritise senior citizens in the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP), Yap expressed concern for others who have yet to receive their vaccinations.

Turf View Care Centre manager Amy Leong said it was crucial for the government to expedite the inoculation drive, including for the younger age groups.

"The working generation is facing the highest risk now. We know for a fact that the majority age group of Covid-19 patients in critical condition, especially those who succumbed to the infection, are between 30 and 60.

"Herd immunity is our only option to save lives and reduce death rates.

"I truly hope that the government is able to vaccinate everybody before we lose too many of our own. Time is clearly not on our side."

Leong said almost 90 per cent of the elderly people at the centre had received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccines.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/07/711164/speed-inoculations-senior-citizens

"The remaining 10 per cent, aged around 95 to 106, are unable to receive the vaccination due to their health conditions."

The Penang government, Leong said, had been quick to cooperate with the centre in getting the residents vaccinated.

She said the Northeast Penang District Health Department had contacted the home on May 18 to arrange for the vaccination drive to take place at the home.

"This was the best option as some elderly who are bedridden would not have been able to make it to the vaccination centres.

"Our residents received their first Covid-19 jabs on May 24.

"The medical team was extremely efficient and worked really hard to coordinate the programme."

She said vaccination also brought hope to the home's residents, who were stressed at not being able to see their family members or be physically close to others.

"After the inoculation, we could see that their mood has improved. They are feeling positive."

The National Council of Senior Citizens Organisations Malaysia (Nacscom) president Datuk Dr Soon Ting Kueh said 90 per cent of its 20,000 members had been vaccinated.

"With the government opening up the Covid-19 vaccination centres (PPVs) to allow walk-in vaccination from Aug 1, we believe that at least 95 per cent will be vaccinated.

"Those not willing to be vaccinated consist of those who are very old or sickly people who don't get out of the home or are immobile."

The Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus is reportedly at least two times more transmissible, having an R-naught of between five and eight compared with the original Covid-19 virus's R-naught of between 2.5 and three.

Up to July 15, 95 per cent out of the 3,025,275 elderly people who registered under the NIP have received at least the first dose of the vaccine.

A total of 2,680,880 senior citizens, 219,404 people with disabilities and 5,136,727 people with comorbidities have received at least the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine under Phase 2 of the NIP.

Overall, about 9.57 million people in Malaysia have received at least the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.