THE authorities’ actions will convince and build the confidence of refugees and undocumented migrants to come forward to get vaccinated, said Khairy Jamaluddin. 

The coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme said in order to achieve this, the government will have to assure they do not make a U-turn on a promise not to detain them.

“I think one key step towards increasing confidence among these refugees is the demonstration of fact. 

“Once we start working together with civil society groups as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to vaccinate refugees and they themselves can see they can come forward to get vaccinated without facing any consequences, then word will spread, and they will be more confident to come out to get vaccinated,” Khairy said at his weekly press conference on the vaccination programme today.

Before the vaccination drive began, Khairy assured that undocumented migrants will not be detained when they come forward to get their Covid-19 vaccinations.

He said his ministry was working with the Home Ministry to ensure undocumented migrants can get vaccinated without being detained.

However, despite his assurance, migrant workers remain sceptical of the vaccination programme.  

Last month, he said the cabinet will discuss whether to include amnesty as part of the immunisation drive for undocumented migrants. 

Khairy said he has discussed this issue with United Nations agencies and the World Health Organisation. 

In the meantime, Khairy said the government will work with civil societies and UNHCR to vaccinate refugees in the country, adding that employers are responsible for registering their migrant workers for vaccination, whether they possess valid documents or not. 

“We will be working together with the Home Ministry for refugees who have registered.  

“For refugees who carry the UNHCR card, we will be working with the UN to vaccinate them. That will take place during phase 3,” he said, adding that migrant workers and the economic sector will also be vaccinated during this phase, given there is enough vaccine supply.  

The second phase is from April to August, involving 9.4 million senior citizens, aged 60 and above, as well as vulnerable groups with morbidity problems and persons with disabilities.

The third phase, scheduled from May 2021 to February 2022, is for individuals aged 18 and above, targeting about 14 million people. – April 19, 2021.