Clinic chains get overwhelming response for vaccines

GEORGE TOWN: A private clinic chain here has received over 9,000 Sinovac vaccine bookings.

The O2 clinic, which has eight branches on Penang island and the mainland, will officially begin the vaccination drive today.

Its marketing executive Cathy Ooi said a trial run was held on the weekend and more than 50 people turned up to get their vaccines at RM350 for both doses.

“Many of those who registered, other than individuals, are from companies and organisations,” she said.

She said they have a supply of more than 5,000 vaccine doses and would obtain more.

Ooi also said the vaccination exercise would be conducted over the next few months until all those who had registered were inoculated.

“For now, we are not vaccinating any walk-ins because there is a high number of people who have registered.

“Their Mysejahtera app would be updated accordingly once the dosages are dispensed,” she said.

Klinik Bersatu and its chain of clinics said they already have more than 200 people registered with them at their Lip Sin Garden branch.

“We will administer the Sinovac vaccine from mid-august at RM380 per person for both doses,” said a senior nurse there who only wanted to be known as Ooi.

“A small discount will be given to those who bring another person (need not be family members) and they only need pay RM370, or RM360 each if they bring three people. A further discount at RM350 per person will be given for a group of 10 or more,” she explained.

Ooi added that for now the vaccination exercise would only be done at their Lip Sin branch.

Penang health committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said the sale of the Sinovac vaccine was a private deal between Pharmaniaga Bhd and private clinics and hospitals.

“The price of RM350 is a fair one as the state government was also quoted the same price when it wanted to purchase the vaccine then. But we decided against it. In the end, the duration of getting the supply was longer than expected,” she said.