Rais wants senators listed as frontliners for Covid-19 vaccine

 KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim has officially informed the government to include members of the Senate in the list of frontliners to receive the Covid-19 vaccine jabs.

He said the letter was handed over to coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Khairy Jamaluddin and health minister Dr Adham Baba this morning.

“The letter (aims to) ask why senators are not included in the list of main recipients (of the vaccine), together with other legislators, such as members of the Dewan Rakyat and state legislative assemblies.

“I have reminded them to return the legislative rights to the 66 senators. I am acting as the president of Dewan Negara and this matter can only be resolved by Khairy and Adham,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

Checks on the JKJAV (Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee) website https://www.vaksincovid.gov.my/ regarding guidelines for determining the list of frontliners for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme found that members of the Senate were not included with members of the Dewan Rakyat and state legislative assemblies.

The guidelines state the general definition of frontliners as those who are: at high risk of being infected and spreading Covid-19; those who are directly exposed to infected individuals; those who are directly exposed to samples from patients or environment with the potential to become a source of infection.

The document divides frontliners into two categories. Category one is for members directly involved in treatment and health care while Category two is for members involved in the health sector, defence agencies, security personnel and essential services.

The document, dated March 1 and signed by JKJAV co-chairs Adham and Khairy, also states that any amendments to the guidelines are subject to the decision and ruling of the JKJAV.

Source : FMT