THE Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) wants the Covid-19 immunisation task force to use some 8,000 private GPs nationwide in the Covid-19 immunisation drive, as it enters the final stages before achieving herd immunity.

MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said it was puzzling why the task force decided to stop vaccination appointments at 741 private GP clinics, several private hospitals and ambulatory care centres in Selangor from August 23.

“The task force should use the 8,000 private GPs nationwide for the national immunisation programme’s final lap towards achieving herd immunity, now that more than 50% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine,” he said in a statement.

Subramaniam said while mega vaccination centres had boosted Malaysia’s vaccination rate, more people find going to a private GP convenient as it is not crowded and closer to home.

“The task force should be increasing, not limiting the involvement of the private GPs in this phase of the programme.

“Such policies of use when needed and dump when not will not augur well and discourage other GPs from taking part.”

Subramaniam said the private GPs were informed of the changes via a circular by Protecthealth, a Health Ministry company, on August 19.

“No reason has been given but we do believe it has to do with the coding system for the vaccines – a minor issue we believe can be easily resolved as both the government administered vaccines and private vaccines will have a separate code.”

In the circular to private GPs, ProtectHealth cited a decision by the task force to no longer give first-dose and second-dose appointments at vaccination centres in GP clinics, specialist clinics, private hospitals, and ambulatory care centres from Monday.

“Any appointments after this date will be reassigned by MySejahtera to another location,” it said in the statement.

“As you might be aware, the implementation of Operation Surge Capacity in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor from July 23 to August 1 has achieved its objective of giving at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine to all registered adults.”

Subramaniam said he hopes moving forward, the task force will increase engagement with private GPs before making any decisions.

“The vaccinations for adolescents ages 12-17 starts in just three weeks.

“If the GPs are going to be roped in as the director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah indicated, it needs to be planned now. Likewise, the booster shots that will be required in a few months.”

The termination of private health care facilities as vaccination centres comes after the task force instructed the closure of 29 vaccination centres in Selangor from the end of August to the end of September. – August 21, 2021.