FINALLY there is some light at the end of the tunnel in the nation’s struggle against Covid. The vaccination rate has accelerated. From 10,000 or so a day, we’re now immunising 500,000 people daily.

We also seem to have procured enough vaccines for all Malaysians. This places us among the fastest to inoculate in the world, which is quite an achievement. 

But while doing things fast is important, doing it right is, too. We have had a major cluster outbreak in a vaccination centre in Shah Alam, and potentially a second one in the same area. It isn’t entirely surprising, given its proximity to Bukit Tinggi, Klang, presently a hotbed for infections under a targeted MCO. 

Data collected should be used as close as possible to real time, and analytics can play a more meaningful role. If we continue to isolate people based on weeks-old information, an outbreak will be far more difficult to contain.

Instead of trying to prevent panic, instructions for isolation could first be sent out via MySejahtera or via the Hotspot function in the geographical area as soon as signs of a cluster emerge.

More should also be done to protect our frontline volunteers, especially those in red zones. For example, only fully vaccinated people should be allowed into these areas, and bi-weekly tests should be enforced. Risks in mega PPVs should be taken into consideration as much as the benefits.

We can’t afford to have more incidents. Public confidence in the safety of the vaccination process is as important, if not more so than confidence in the vaccines themselves. 

The same crowding risks apply in the hospitals, quarantine centres and covid assessment centres. Long queues at those centres aren’t just an inconvenience but a risk for the spread of variants of concern (VOC).

The authorities could consider imposing self-checks and isolation, which will also free up much needed resources for VOC cluster control, hospital staffing and targeted EMCO site control. 

The government also needs to manage the multiple streams of information currently around – vaccine types, safety, locations and national progress; testing for Covid-19’s various strains; and what to do when found infected with those various strains.  

With so much information going around, ensuring the accurate information goes out is vital, to enable the public to make better decisions in conducting their everyday business, to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus and to counter dangerous misinformation campaigns, such as anti-vaxxers.  

The government should also better explain their decision, such as to prioritize Pfizer after initially focusing on Sinovac.  

Positive developments like Selangor’s cooperation with the federal government, and Operation Capacity Surge should be more widespread, as private-public partnerships to roll out the vaccine.

Perhaps it could also be extended to assist in cluster control and contact tracing. Larger companies could be tasked with managing the workers under their care, as a condition for reopening for business. Many are doing it already, creating an unnecessary overlap in tasks. 

Though we crave economic respite via relaxation of rules, it should be done carefully. An immediate step to release pressure could be to let second-dose recipients resume business or work again in their own zones, unless the area is under an EMCO.

This will allow four million people back into the economy again to get things running again in otherwise shuttered companies.

Immediacy is critical in the new norm, and we can ill afford to wait and-see anymore. Those entrusted to manage the various facets of the pandemic problem – case management, economic recovery, mental health, information dissemination and outbreak isolation need to urgently look into their respective areas and push harder instead of relying on vaccinations alone, which will take time to complete and more time to achieve herd immunity. 

Wishing all Muslim readers Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha. – July 21, 2021.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.