The Malaysia National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP) started in February 2021 and there are still many questions about the science and safety behind the vaccine, as well as the implementation of the NCIP itself. In this conversation organised by IMU Community Engagement (IMU Cares) office, a panel of five experts have been invited on the evening of 3 March 2021 to answer questions from the public regarding the COVID-19 vaccine via the Zoom platform.
This forum was conducted in a Q&A format where questions are submitted by the public via Pigeonhole Live, for the panel to discuss and answer. The session was moderated by Prof Dr Khoo Suan Phaik (Dean for Community Engagement, IMU) and Daniel Lee (Manager, Community Engagement, IMU).
| The panel consists of 5 distinguished guests, representing the different stakeholders of the vaccine: | |
|---|---|
| Professor Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman | Pro Vice Chancellor of Research, IMU and Professor in Public Health |
| Dr Mohd Nor Azman Hassan | Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia |
| Dr Badarulhisam Abdul Rahman | Head of Research & Development, Pharmaniaga Bhd |
| Dr Rohani Hj Ismail | Senior Principal Assistant Director, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia |
| Dr Benedict Sim Lim Heng | Infectious Disease Consultant, Hospital Sungai Buloh |
The webinar kicked off with the introduction of the 5 speakers and their take on the current situation regarding the vaccine before diving straight into the questions posted by the public via Pigeonhole. The questions raised by the public are mainly healthcare concerns on whether specific groups of people would be negatively affected by the vaccine. There were also questions regarding the registration process for vaccination as well as the implementation of the programme which were being answered by Dr Mohd Nor Azman. There were also some other interesting questions on the science behind the vaccines, as well as views on herd immunity. A total of 27 questions were answered by the panel within the 1.5-hour long session. To watch the full version of the forum, you can view it here: https://fb.watch/4J6cgIM7c6/.
As the vaccine continues to roll out in phases, we ought to be careful of the hearsay surrounding the vaccine. The experts have concluded that all who are eligible should be vaccinated for the safety of the nation against COVID-19. Learn more about the NCIP in Malaysia through the e-handbook here: https://www.vaksincovid.gov.my/pdf/National_COVID-19_Immunisation_Programme_English.pdf.
