Responding to the recent announcement for the ease of restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has advised the Malaysian government to delay their plans to do so.
Just within hours before the easing of restrictions come into effect, the MMA President, Dr Subramaniam Muniandy in a statement questioned the scientific basis behind the government’s move to ease the SOPs for fully vaccinated individuals.
“If the decision was really made based on science, why is inter-state travel allowed for those who want to see their spouses and children?” he asked, as reported by Astro Awani.
“Either it’s sufficiently safe for the fully vaccinated to travel, in which case all vaccinated individuals should be allowed to travel, or it is not, in which case nobody should travel.” he added.
In addition, he said that the scientific data must be the determining factor as to which states are entitled for more relaxations. He also pointed out that some states in the Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) had been showing an increasing trend in cases of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, he called upon the government to focus on the hospital bed utilisation and intensive care unit (ICU) situation in the country instead.
He explained that the country will not be getting zero cases on Covid-19 any time soon and with the increase in vaccination rate, serious cases will soon be trending down.
“These figures will be more meaningful indicators apart from the number of daily new cases. It is important that the public be kept informed of the bed capacity and ICU status in their respective states.” he said.
Moving forward, he urge the government to disclose the vaccination rates of the high-risk individuals and the SOP relaxations must consider the wellbeing of groups such as nursing homes, medical students and undocumented workers.
Last Sunday (8 August), Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced a list of relaxed SOP for fully vaccinated individuals. Among the leniencies given to these individuals include dining in at restaurants, inter-state/inter-district travelling to visit long-distance spouses and children and relaxed regulations for those returning from abroad to home quarantine.
However, these individuals are required to bring along the necessary documents to support their claim as being fully vaccinated.
Nonetheless, even if you are fully vaccinated, it is important to understand that you are not immune to the Covid-19 virus. Fully vaccinated individuals may still transmit the virus and bring danger to those near them.
Hence, it is still the best to stay at home and go out only when it is necessary.
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