‘Quite impossible’ to be injected with empty syringe, says Selangor health department

Selangor health director Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman today said it was “quite impossible” for anyone to be injected with an empty syringe, following claims of this by a man which have gone viral on social media.

Sha’ari said vaccination centres always ensure that the health ministry’s SOPs are followed and that the vaccination process is at the optimum level.

“We wish to emphasise that various checks are in place as part of the best practices determined by the health ministry and improvements are made from time to time,” he said in a statement on the Selangor health department’s Facebook last night.

He added that several guidelines must be followed throughout the vaccination process, including the requirement for those administering the vaccines to be from a pool of qualified and trained personnel who have been formally appointed by the department.

Sha’ari said at least two personnel must be at every station to see to the vaccine administration.

“One person acts as the vaccinator while the other will prepare the vaccine and be the witness while the vaccine is being administered.

“The staff preparing the vaccine will extract the vaccine into a special syringe according to the prescribed dosage before handing it over to the vaccinator or placing it in a special container near the vaccinator,” he said, adding that this person must also ensure that all empty syringes are removed.

“Before administering the vaccine, it is the vaccinator’s responsibility to ensure that the type of vaccine is for the recipient as tagged during the registration process,” he said.

The inoculation procedure must follow the intramuscular injection technique, and once the vaccine has been administered, the emptied syringe will be thrown into a sharps disposal container placed near the vaccinator, he said.

“With strict adherence to these measures, it is quite impossible for a recipient to be vaccinated with an empty syringe,” he said.