PUTRAJAYA must prepare to roll out vaccine booster shots to keep the Covid-19 epidemic in check, said Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran.

He said it is among the measures the government should take as Selangor moves into phase 2 of the national recovery plan (NRP) today.

“Firstly, we need to get the Covid-19 vaccine third doses. Booster shots need to be planned ahead, as we know that the delivery of vaccine supplies takes time from the time the order is first placed.

“MOH must ensure that we lock in our orders for the third dose early, and lock in the time frames for taking delivery,” he said in a statement.

Rajiv said many countries around the world, including neighbours Indonesia and Singapore, have already started administering third jabs.

However, he said the Health Ministry has a duty to vaccinate all Malaysians before starting the third dose for the public.

“MOH should immediately allow the private sector to start administering the third dose to those willing to pay for it.”

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will move to phase 2 of the NRP today. 

He said the state and two territories will count as one infection area and movement within the area is allowed.

Rajiv said it is imperative to continue testing and isolating to reduce the spread of the virus and avoid another lockdown.

“A highly efficient testing and isolating strategy is required so that we don’t u-turn back to phase 1.

“Vaccination decreases hospitaliaation rates but even that effect seems to be waning, (and) not just (in) Selangor. MoH needs to buck up its testing capacity throughout the country.”

As for hospitals, he said the MOH needs to be prepared to increase bed capacity if cases should spike for any reason.

“Equipment, medicine, medical personnel and volunteers should be on standby to ensure we can set up enough makeshift hospitals on short notice to take in cases that require hospitalisation in case of a sudden surge of cases.

“Having the capacity to scale up when required will avoid… lockdown again and again.”

Rajiv added that it has been four months since Selangor went into its third lockdown in May.

“This is probably the longest lockdown in the country, and all of us would definitely never want to have to go through it again.

“I call upon the MOH and the government to ensure that we never have to repeat this lengthy MCO moving forward, which has been devastating to our economy, the livelihoods of our people, and our mental health.” – September 10, 2021.