Letter: Speed Up Boosters to Aged Care Facilities

By the Malaysian Health Coalition & Malaysian Society of Geriatric Medicine
(Full Signature List on myhealthcoalition.org)

The Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC) and Malaysian Society of Geriatric Medicine (MGSM) urges the Ministry of Health (MOH), District Health Offices (PKD) and Social Welfare Department (JKM) to work with operators of aged care facilities to speed up efforts in delivering booster shots to aged care facilities and nursing homes. We must ensure our senior citizens are able to get through the Omicron wave with as little damage as possible.

We are concerned with the surge in COVID-19 cases, with a large portion of senior citizens in nursing homes remaining unboosted. 

Unlike independent senior citizens who are able to mobilise and go to vaccination centres to receive their boosters, most residents in aged care facilities are less privileged or less mobile, and the boosters need to reach them instead.

Therefore, all responsible parties and their volunteers must actively reach out to all aged care facilities and nursing homes and conduct mobile vaccination programs in these centres regardless of their registration status. Vaccines must reach senior citizens, and not senior citizens trying to reach vaccines.

We urge immediate action by the government to ensure all our senior citizens are vaccinated and boosted, as quickly as possible. 

BERKHIDMAT UNTUK NEGARA.

Full signature list:  

Organisations

1. Association of Malaysian Optometrists
2. College of Anaesthesiologists, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia
3. College of Physicians, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia
4. College of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia
5. IKRAM Health Malaysia
6. Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia
7. Malaysian Association of Clinical Biochemists
8. Malaysian Medical Association
9. Malaysian Pharmacists Society
10. Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology
11. Malaysian Society of Geriatric Medicine
12. Malaysian Society of Intensive Care 
13. Malaysian Thoracic Society
14. Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia
15. Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia

Individuals

1. Assoc Prof Dr Uma Devi Palanisamy
2. Dato’ Dr Amar Singh-HSS
3. Dr Khor Swee Kheng
4. Prof Dato’ Dr Mohd Zin Bidin
5. Prof Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail
6. Prof Dr Roslina Abdul Manap
7. Prof Dr Zaleha Abdullah Mahdy

Coordinated by: Mellinnda Xavier