ASTRAZENECA SHOTS TO BE USED IN NIP
Usage approved by country’s vaccine panel as benefits outweigh the risks, says Adham Baba
MALAYSIA will proceed to use the AstraZeneca vaccine in the National Covid19 Immunisation Programme as its benefits outweigh the risks.
This was amid reports of alleged blood clots and deaths among recipients of the vaccine in the United Kingdom, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
Dr Adham said the decision to go ahead to inoculate the nation’s population using the AstraZeneca vaccine was decided by the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee (JKJAV) yesterday.
“The JKJAV, among others, discussed matters related to AstraZeneca and we take note of the element of adverse effects and factors linked to blood clots.
“But we will continue with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country because the clinical data we have leans towards more benefits comparedwith side effects.
“In view of that, we will proceed with the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine,” he said at the Health Ministry here yesterday.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had reportedly said that Malaysia was scheduled to start receiving deliveries of the AstraZeneca vaccine next month.
It involved the procurement of 6.4 million doses for 3.2 million recipients. The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency had recently said in a statement that out of 30 people who suffered blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, seven had died.
It was also reported that the Netherlands had halted vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine for people under the age of 60 after there were five new cases of blood clots among women, one of whom died. South Africa and Germany had also taken the decision not to use the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Earlier, after launching the Future Hospital Strategy and Development Forum 2021 at the Royale Chulan Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Dr Adham said there was a need for the government to re-look hospital designs as the Covid-19 pandemic had brought a new set of challenges for the health sector.
He said factors like physical distancing and stricter hygiene protocols needed to be considered when designing health facilities in the future.
“With new designs, high-rise hospital buildings are now allowed. An element that is especially needed is a triage area, where temperature screening could be conducted before people enter the facility.
“The second element is a negative pressure room to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among patients and to control the level of cleanliness, including the operating theatres.
“The third is the use of technology by patients. As Covid-19 patients are not allowed to receive visitors (to prevent infection), we have to look at ways to provide facilities like headsets to allow them to chat with their families,” he said.
Dr Adham said public hospitals and clinics had logged 77 million patient visits last year, compared with 17 million visits in 2008.
He said other ideas for future hospitals should include the use of futuristic technology, robotic doctors and new-age medicine.
“As healthcare moves into the future, the quest for quality and affordability continues to be the key driver for transformation.
“Healthcare facilities must be ready to switch to ‘pandemic mode’ with ease in the face of future crises,” he said.
At present, 63 hospitals, including three university hospitals, were designated Covid-19 hospitals, of which seven had been running as full Covid-19 hospitals and the rest as hybrid models.