MALAYSIA Shopping Malls Association has dismissed claims that workers have to pay RM50 for on-site Covid-19 vaccinations, after malls agreed to subsidise the costs of the exercise.

They said in all their communications, they had stated that the vaccine is provided free by the government.

“However, there is a RM15 per dose (RM30 per course of two doses) charged by ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd for the supply of doctors, nurses, medical officers to administer the vaccine. 

“It is pertinent to note that this payment is prepaid and non-refundable,” they said in a statement. 

It said the malls are to provide the venue and all the manpower from administration to security and ambulance service whereby the real cost to the mall is RM100 to RM150 per dose depending on volume and size of the vaccination centre (PPV).  

“As stated in our previous press statements, we reiterate that the malls have offered to deeply subsidise this programme by only charging a RM10 per dose out of the RM100 to RM150 real cost plus RM15 per dose to be collected and paid to ProtectHealth.”

They said the RM10 per dose is a commitment for the participant to turn up for vaccination. 

“Unfortunately, we are too much aware that in our society when things are offered to be completely free-of-charge, people who have pre-registered may not turn up because they do not have any commitments. 

“This will ultimately result in a waste of the precious vaccine due to no show, thereby depriving others of the opportunity for early vaccination or the vaccines may even go to waste.”

It said that at no time did they ask the staff to pay for the cost, however, they did advise the malls to bill their tenants or shops a standard amount of RM50 as a subsidised charge as this will work as a commitment for participants to turn up.  

“We are also completely at a loss why the RM50 charge is being stigmatised where, to our knowledge, there are several other much higher ‘charges’ being offered by other third parties to different sectors of the economy.  

“In fact, the public has questioned why there is a fee charged by ProtectHealth since the government has gallantly given free vaccinations at all the public and mobile PPVs as well as at private clinics as and when it is rolled out.”

They said this public-private collaboration is to complement the government’s efforts to hasten and accelerate the vaccination program to reach herd immunity as soon as possible.  

“It was also mentioned that we were denounced for the proposal, saying that all costs for the vaccination programme should be picked up by employers. 

“We do agree wholeheartedly that employers should pick up the tab and have indeed urged our member malls to absorb the cost for the personnel employed by the mall directly.”
 
It also said that the fact that more than 60 malls and most of the mall tenants have enthusiastically signed up to participate is clear testimony of the interest to join this noble cause, both morally and monetarily.  

“It must also be noted that the programme is offered solely on an optional basis targeted towards shopping frontliners. 

“We strongly encourage all malls to arrange for their staff and the employees to be vaccinated as this is one of the key measures to achieve herd immunity and start the recovery journey.” – June 12, 2021.