By Zareef Muzammil and Sheeda Fathil
SHAH ALAM, June 26, — The government should allow more companies, organisations and individuals to buy vaccines to speed up the immunisation programme.
Bukit Lanjan state assemblyman Elizabeth Wong said the private sector should be allowed to procure vaccines from foreign pharmaceutical companies.
“Although we see every day the figure (Covid-19 vaccine injections) is over 100,000, yet it will take more than six months to achieve herd immunity, this is a fact.
"So, it is better if more parties are involved in the vaccination programme and the government should allow some flexibility such as allowing hospitals or outsider (private sector) to bring vaccines officially into the country," she said.
She said this during the Media Selangor’s Bual Bicara virtual talk show titled ‘Fighting Pandemic, Above Politics’ that was aired live on Media Selangor’s Facebook page and SelangorTV Youtube channel yesterday.
Wong also asked the government to come up with a cheap Covid-19 self-test kit so that individuals do not need to go to the screening centre and can do it at home.
Meanwhile, Sentosa state assemblyman Dr G Gunaraj wanted the government to allow non-governmental organisations (NGOs), corporate companies and individuals to buy vaccines for free distribution to the public.
He said many parties are willing to use their own funds to acquire the vaccines to help the community thus speed up herd immunity.
"This matter should be given attention by the government as it will indirectly instil the spirit of responsibility within the community in helping fight the pandemic crisis.
"The government's failure in managing the vaccination programme is hurting the people who are fighting for their lives against the virus,” he said in a statement.
