THE Health Ministry should provide detailed and clear information on the dispensing of Covid-19 vaccine booster doses to gain the public’s confidence on the initiative.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said many senior citizens were still hesitant and confused on whether to receive the booster jab.

“According to the Penang state health department, it was found from the appointments given through MySejahtera that 40% did not turn up. Perhaps there is an issue of confidence, or the brand of vaccine (has) affected the people’s perception of the booster dose.

“Therefore, we hope the health minister and government will provide more information and clearer instructions from time to time… to ease the pressure faced by the department after the efforts to mobilise vaccination centres (which have just been closed) for booster shots. This is a new challenge,” he told reporters after the Cassia Siamea Tree Planting programme in Batu Kawan today.

On October 18, Penang started administering Covid-19 booster doses to frontliners in stages, followed by senior citizens and those with comorbidities group.

Meanwhile, Chow said 26 new private facilities have been listed as booster dose centres to add to the 47 existing facilities in all districts in the state.

“According to statistics in COVIDNOW, about 24,000 booster doses have been dispensed in Penang. It is quite slow…as such there is a need to increase the number of facilities,” he said and added that the Covid-19 situation in Penang is under control. – Bernama, November 13, 2021.