DOSES of unused AstraZeneca vaccines at the end of the day are administered to those on the waiting list and those who walk in, said Dr Adham Baba.

The health minister said there have been cases where would-be recipients were found to be unsuited for the vaccine after medical assessment and people not showing up for their appointments.

“In such an event, we can give the unused vaccines to those on the waiting list. Walk-ins are also permitted,” Adham told The Malaysian Insight, adding that all the slots were fully booked.

He was responding to The Malaysian Insight’s queries on the unused doses being administered on a walk-in basis. 

It is learnt that walk-ins are permitted at certain vaccination centres for the AstraZeneca vaccine in Kuala Lumpur if there are unused doses available at the end of the day.

Adham said this is only permitted on condition that there are would-be recipients who are unable to take the jab for valid reasons on the day of their appointment.

He said those who walk in can register at the vaccination centres if they have not.

“They have to register as well. The staff will help out,” he said.

However, he did not say the number of would-be recipients who failed to show up at the four centres in the Klang Valley since the vaccination exercise began.

The immunisation slots were all snapped up in less than four hours after registration opened at noon on May 2.

Malaysia received 268,800 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Covax facility on April 23.

The vaccine was dropped from the main National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to avert concerns over its safety and efficacy.

The vaccine, produced by the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical firm, has been at the centre of controversies, following reports of blood clots and deaths among recipients.

As a result, the government opted to administer the vaccine on a voluntary basis.

However, both local and international health authorities have time and again maintained that the vaccine is safe and efficacious.

The vaccine is administered at special vaccination centres in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, namely the Putra World Trade Centre, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam. – May 8, 2021.