Drive Thru Vaccination To Be Held In Malaysia: What Are The Advantages & Disadvantages?

Recently, the Coordinating Minister of the National Covid-19 Immunization Program, Khairy Jamaluddin announced that five more mega PPVs will be added in the Klang Valley to accommodate the larger vaccination capacity starting from June 7. Three mega PPVs will be established around Selangor and two more in Kuala Lumpur.

"The COVID-19 Immunization Task Force (CITF) has decided to increase vaccination capacity in the Klang Valley. I have informed the Selangor Menteri Besar.

"In Selangor, we will add three mega PPVs, namely at The Mines, UiTM Puncak Alam and Setia City Convention Centre while in Kuala Lumpur, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and the Bukit Jalil National Stadium," he said after visiting the PPVs at the Exhibition Centre and Malaysia International Trade (MITEC).

For other locations such as Penang and Johor, discussions on the opening of a mega PPV will also be held. 

DRIVE THRU VACCINATION IN CONSIDERATION

To resolve the issue of delays in vaccination, the government has already started planning to conduct drive thru vaccinations.

Following the encouraging results received from the pilot vaccination programme at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, several states have applied for permission to run this system.

"I ask for 24 hours to issue guidelines for the implementation of the drive thru vaccinations. We need to make sure there are safety guidelines, you can't just drive  past, get the jab (vaccine) and straight away leave. There has to be a monitoring period. The idea is good and we took it into consideration.”

DRIVE THRU VACCINATION VS WALK-IN: WHICH IS BETTER?

Based on a study by the Stanwood Camano Fire Department, Camano Island, Washington, the following are among the advantages and disadvantages of drive thru vaccination as well as walk-ins.

Advantages of a drive thru vaccination system:

• Able to give the vaccine to more people in a faster time
• Reduces the risk of exposure to the virus for both vaccine recipients and health workers
• Vaccine recipients can sit more comfortably in their vehicles
• Better facilitation of individuals with disabilities

Disadvantages of the drive thru vaccination system:

• Issues of using too much car fuel while waiting for a turn
• Problems involving the weather, especially for health workers who are exposed to outdoor weather (especially if it rains)
• Issues of communication with vaccine recipients that has been queueing for a long time
• Possible carbon monoxide poisoning 

Advantages of walk-in vaccination system:

• Easier communication as all vaccine recipients are in the same facility
• There are facilities such as storage, electricity, internet connection, audio-visual equipment, toilets and so on.

Disadvantages of walk-in vaccination system:

• Possibility of crowd mixing between healthy and unhealthy individuals
• Difficult for individuals with disabilities

WHICH COUNTRY HAS IMPLEMENTED DRIVE THRU VACCINATIONS SYSTEM IN THE PAST? 

United Kingdom

The UK is the first country in the world to have implemented drive thru vaccinations to the public. The first guided vaccination process was held at the Hyde Leisure Centre vaccination centre, Greater Manchester.

Indonesia

Recipients of COVID-19 vaccine in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia on March 13 

The Indonesian Ministry of Health has already started offering drive thru vaccinations to the elderly and workers in the tourism sector starting last March. 

After receiving the vaccine, they have to wait about 30 minutes with the window lowered to facilitate monitoring work by health workers. If there are any problems, the vaccine recipient is asked to sound the horn. If there are no problems during that period, they are allowed to go home.

The health department provides mini intensive care units, ambulances and even motorcycles in case there are any complications among the vaccine recipients.

Kuwait 

A vaccine recipient who went through the drive thru system in Kuwait on May 30

Kuwait opened its first drive thru vaccination centre at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway in May this year. The vaccination centre is equipped with a clinic and an emergency room. Covering an area of ​​nearly 30,000 square meters, the largest vaccination centre in the country houses 20 tents that allow around 80 people to receive the vaccine in about three to four minutes by 200 health workers. It is estimated that this vaccination centre can accommodate up to 5,000 vehicles a day.

France

Named ‘vaccidrive,’ France’s first drive-thru vaccination centre opened in Saint-Jean-de-Védas last April.

Other countries, such as Australia, are still considering the drive thru systems for vaccination. In your opinion, is this drive thru vaccination suitable to be done in Malaysia? What are the things that need to be considered so that this process can run smoothly? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below!