Over 10,000 no-shows for vaccine appointments in Kedah

A total of 10,827 individuals who registered as Covid-19 vaccine recipients in Kedah failed to turn up for their vacination appointments between April 19 and May 22.

Kedah health director Dr Mohd Fikri Ujang said this was 35% of the 30,100 individuals who had registered and were given appointments through the MySejahtera application under the second phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

“The number involves individuals who were supposed to come and receive the injections at public vaccination centres (PPVs), health ministry clinic PPVs, private clinic PPVs and private hospital PPVs.

“However, the vaccines were then administered to a waiting list that met the criteria of phase two, namely the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart problems and so on,” he said when contacted today.

He said among the reasons given for the no-shows included worry and not being prepared to receive the vaccine jab. There were others who cited being unwell, undergoing quarantine, being out of the area and not having transport to go to the PPV, as well as those who wanted to make a last-minute change of appointment date.

Fikri said in order to increase the attendance of registered recipients, the state health department had taken the approach of making announcements on social media sites to raise community awareness about the importance and benefits of vaccination.

He said until May 24, a total of 579,526 or 37.6% of the 1,541,160 who were eligible to receive Covid-19 vaccine shots had registered in the state.

“The number of those who had received the first dose as of May 24 was 91,349 (15.76%) of the total number who registered.”