We don’t recommend Ivermectin to treat Covid-19, says health DG. Read here (Free Malaysia Today, Nov 3, 2021)
Ivermectin study: Doctor whose clinic was raided stands his ground, disputes findings Read here (Free Malaysia Today, Nov 3, 2021)
I’ll study findings, says MP who urged use of Ivermectin for Covid treatment Read here (Free Malaysia Today, Nov 3, 2021)
‘The Sinovac vaccine can reduce the risk of death among Covid-19 patients by up to 84%, the health ministry said today. Citing data from the real-world evaluation of Covid-19 vaccines under the Malaysia national Covid-19 immunisation programme (RECoVaM), the ministry said the Pfizer jab decreased the risk of death by 93%.
‘In a Twitter post, it said the AstraZeneca vaccine showed the best result, with the lowest rate of “breakthrough deaths”, with the study finding that the jab reduced the risk of deaths among Covid-19 patients by 96%. This was based on a survey led by the health ministry’s Institute for Clinical Research (ICR) on 1,261,270 individuals.’
Read here (Free Malaysia Today, Sept 24, 2021)
‘In the absence of a mandatory vaccine policy, the government can consider other lesser restrictive options. They are as follows:
‘In a nutshell, the government should navigate through this ethical dilemma cautiously. The government should consider other less restrictive alternatives that will protect the individual’s self-determination which is also in the state’s interest.’
Read here (Free Malaysia Today, Sept 12, 2021)
‘These deaths of the fully vaccinated, that occurred between June 7 and Sept 6, were mainly senior citizens (744; 80.6 percent), had comorbidities (750; 81.3 percent) - usually both (605; 65.6 percent). Deaths among those below 60 with no comorbidities only accounted for 33 cases (3.6 percent).
‘Based on Malaysiakini's analysis of the data, Sinovac vaccine recipients account for 710 out of 922 of these deaths (77.0 percent), even though Sinovac vaccine recipients only make up 51.5 percent of fully vaccinated people as of Sept 6 including the 14-day period after the second dose. In comparison, Pfizer vaccine recipients account for 206 deaths (22.3 percent) while accounting for 43.6 percent of the fully vaccinated population in Malaysia.
‘In other words, there are 10.11 vaccine breakthrough deaths for every 100,000 people fully vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine, and 3.47 per 100,000 for Pfizer recipients.’
Read here (Malaysiakini via YahooNews, Sept 10, 2021)
Our weapon against Covid, one money can’t buy... We have to work for it. For those vaccinated, it will elevate our fight against Covid to a higher level. The answer is exercise.
View here (Dr Ling Health Wave, Sept 9, 2021)
The Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC) welcomes the strong start by Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, and note the recent evaluation criteria that he set for the Ministry of Health (MOH). We hope to see the entire MOH machinery, as well as inter-agency collaborations, be mobilized to achieve these goals.
We urge the following:
1. Clarify the specific policy changes for an endemic COVID
The Minister stated that Malaysia “can expect to move into an endemic COVID-19 phase” by the end of October 2021. The MOH must clearly communicate this new strategy to the public by announcing the specific policy changes to its COVID-19 responses. Controlling virus transmissibility, routine vaccination programmes, efficient testing, and improving healthcare capacity, are among the areas that require clear policy shifts, so that we can treat COVID-19 as part of daily Malaysian life. We urge some caution in labelling COVID-19 as endemic, unless these parts of our health system are strengthened. Otherwise, we risk a complacent population or a public administration that stops focusing on COVID-19.
2. Involve expertise from outside MOH when making decisions.
We believe that it is the Minister’s right to build a team which he feels comfortable working with. Nevertheless, we recommend the Minister to get appropriate health advisors and implementation partners, especially from among health experts outside the MOH. Therefore, we urge that non-MOH health advisors and implementation partners be systematically embedded within the decision-making and implementation process, rather than be consulted on an ad hoc basis. A good working model is the Greater Klang Valley Task Force. The MHC and our member organisations are ready to assist.
3. Establish phased Key Performance Indexes (KPIs) for 30-60-90 Days
We commend the Minister’s 100 Day KPIs. However, as we are in the middle of a raging pandemic, some urgent measures must be taken earlier than the 100 days. Therefore, we suggest the Minister agrees on a phased set of KPIs to be achieved within 30, 60, and 90 days, together with MOH and non-MOH experts. This phased KPIs must be publicized for accountability, and also to unite all of Malaysia to achieve these KPIs together. These phased KPIs must be merged with the National Recovery Plan, Budget 2022 and Rancangan Malaysia ke-12, where Health must be at the forefront of all policy considerations.
We must now make up for some lost time due to the political instability of the last 18-months. Therefore, we stand behind the new Health Minister as he leads the MOH to turn the COVID-19 tide in Malaysia’s favour. We will fulfill our duties as responsible health professionals and citizens.
Read here (Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC), Sept 9, 2021)
‘In recent days and weeks, there have been statements made about moving from a Covid-19 pandemic state to an endemic phase by the end of October 2021. The argument for this is that higher adult vaccination rates will be achieved nationwide by that time. So we need to ask this question: Is Malaysia ready to move to an endemic phase by the end of October 2021? I would like to describe some ‘movements’ we need to make as a nation for us to be ready to enter an endemic phase, as well as offer you a ‘report card’ of our preparedness measures.
Three possible ‘phases’ impending
‘Finally, a note about what is to come. No one can predict what will happen with Covid-19, but after hearing international experts and looking at our situation, I would like to offer some ideas.
‘We are currently in what I call the primary protection phase, whereby we are racing against Delta and trying to complete adult vaccination. Many states outside the Klang Valley are in trouble, and we are starting to see rising cases of children hospitalised nationally.
‘We will then move to what I call a consolidation phase, where we try to increase societal protection and reduce the spread of Covid-19 by vaccinating teenagers. Meanwhile, we have to look at the data carefully for any signs of waning immunity, and if adult boosters are required.
‘We then enter a phase I call the long-term danger phase. Here is where we must not let down our guard and risk more outbreaks, especially if worse variants appear. We can do this by a change in lifestyle to address the long term Covid-19 journey. There may be a need to invest in new vaccines.’
Read here (Code Blue, Sept 6, 2021)
‘Malaysia likely has four times more Covid-19 cases than are being officially reported due to limited testing, said Greater Klang Valley Special Task Force (GKVSTF) chief Dr Chong Chee Kheong. Dr Chong said he agreed with views that the real case tally could be undercounted as the government’s policy is to focus on testing symptomatic cases rather than all suspected cases. “On whether it is true that for every Covid-19 case we detect, there are three more undetected cases, that is true,” he told a media briefing today. The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a record high 20,596 new Covid-19 cases yesterday.’
Read here (Code Blue, Aug 6, 2021)
‘Malaysia is not ready to enter an endemic phase of the Covid-19 crisis, which the health ministry said the country would reach by the end of October, according to a consultant doctor. Dr Amar-Singh HSS, a consultant paediatrician, said Malaysia could only enter an endemic phase by January or February. The term refers to the presence of an infectious disease being permanently present in the population...
‘Amar said Malaysia would endure three phases in the current health crisis. The current phase was the Primary Protection Phase, with the country racing to control the Delta variant and trying to complete adult vaccination. Many states outside the Klang Valley are in trouble and a rising number of children are being hospitalised, he said.
‘Next would be the Consolidation Phase, with increased societal protection, and teenagers being vaccinated to reduce the spread of the virus. (Yesterday, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said vaccinations of teenagers would begin in Sarawak this month.)
‘Amar said the final phase would be the Long-term Danger Phase. “Here is where we must not let down our guard and risk more outbreaks, especially if worse variants appear. We can do this by a change in lifestyle to address the long-term Covid-19 journey,” he said, adding there may be a need to invest in new vaccines.’
Read here (Free Malaysia Today, Sept 5, 2021)
1. Undocumented migrants in novel infectious outbreaks
‘Malaysia, sadly, is reaping the consequences of decades of corrupt mismanagement of the “supply chain” for foreign labour, viz. a persistently large pool of undocumented migrant workers, often in congested workplaces and dormitories, who have strong incentives to avoid contact with government agencies.
‘Already fearful of detection, arrest, and deportation in pre-pandemic times, undocumented migrants’ insecurities were exacerbated by the policy reversals of the Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN) and its contradictory messaging over an offer of temporary amnesty to facilitate Covid testing, contact tracing, isolation & treatment, and vaccination.
‘This deeply rooted problem with undocumented migrants, which persists despite repeated rounds of amnesties, will prolong our catastrophic experience with Covid-19 (and future pandemics as well).’
2. Local manufacture of vaccines
‘The major bottleneck was vaccine supply. The likelihood of further variants and endemic Covid emphasises the importance of local capacity for manufacturing vaccines and other pandemic essentials, as part of Malaysia’s pandemic preparedness.’
Read here (The Malay Mail, Sept 1, 2021)
‘A curious thing happened after Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin resigned on August 16 and became the caretaker prime minister, during which period, he should not make any major decisions, but wait for the next prime minister to do so.
‘But that was not to be. He made a major decision to roll back movement controls, relaxing the standard operating procedures for those who have been fully vaccinated allowing them to dine in, and other associated measures. These were announced on August 19, to take effect the following day, when the palace announced that it had picked Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the new prime minister.
‘What was the great hurry for Muhyiddin? Did he want to steal a little bit of thunder in his last days as prime minister? He should have let his successor make the decision, considering that his handling of Covid-19 was one of the reasons MPs lost confidence in his leadership.’
Read here (The Vibes, August 26, 2021)
‘We have all been occupied by the political situation in the country, but the Covid-19 virus is not. It is continuing its relentless march forward, whether we are focused on it or not. While an efficient government that deals with the pandemic decisively is crucial for the country, Malaysians need to be prepared for what is coming our way. I would like to share with you some possible scenarios for the coming weeks and months, and some thoughts and opinions based on current data.
Read here (Code Blue, August 19, 2021)
‘It’s a rather trying time for all of us, and many are the aspects of the pandemic in Malaysia that remain unanswered despite frequent questions from the public. Today, we will focus on 10 Covid-19 vaccination vexations. There are more, but the 10 main ones will do for now.
Read here (The Vibes, July 22, 2021)
‘It’s a dire situation that needs to be handled now through concrete measures instead of repeated platitudes of how we are pressing forward with vaccinations after that late start, for which the only satisfying explanation we have is that vaccine supply was limited then.
‘On the health front, the numbers are going to rise further given the high infectivity rate and the inefficacy of lockdowns – so give the resources needed to hospitals. Extra beds, field hospitals, enlisting the help of private hospitals, changing public facilities to temporary health facilities, increasing the number of ventilators, etc.
‘All the powers are at the disposal of authorities, not just because of the emergency, but under long-standing health laws that have been in the statute books for decades. Use them judiciously but do not be afraid to make bold moves if that is what is necessary.’
Read here (The Vibes, July 20, 2021)
‘A RM50 billion injection of aid by giving cash to the most needy sections of society and an RM2 billion immediate injection to help hospitals in the Klang Valley cope with large numbers of Covid-19 cases are probably the most urgent things to do now.
‘This will alleviate the needless suffering of large numbers of people in the current environment who have to literally beg for food by flying white flags and rely on volunteers and non-governmental organisation to help them while the government should be at the forefront of such efforts.
‘But how would the government raise that RM52 billion, you ask. It can be done through multipartisan efforts by political units to raise the debt ceiling. And this can be done by calling for an urgent meeting of Parliament. But first, let’s lay out the problems and solutions.’
Read here (The Vibes, July 13, 2021)
‘Can the reported number of Covid-19 cases be manipulated? Is it being done? The short answer to the first question is, yes. For the second question, you get to decide after looking at the data. But whichever way you vote, there can be no argument against keeping politics out of Covid-19 – that is absolutely essential for success in beating back the pandemic.
‘Given the constantly high number of daily Covid-19 cases, it is not at all surprising that the movement control order (MCO) has been extended. But what is surprising is that the numbers have stayed steadily well above 5,000 infections per day despite a lockdown of nearly four weeks. Why is that?
‘What the strict MCO over four weeks has done is severely restrict movement within the community, but daily infections are still resistant to moving below the 5,000 figure. That is a clear indication that the source is elsewhere than the broad community – perhaps factories and the manufacturing sector, which are still allowed to operate? Some are pointing to easy approvals for some industries to open.’
Read here (The Vibes, July 8, 2021)
‘On Tuesday, new Covid-19 infections in Malaysia numbered 7,654, the first time the daily tally crossed the 7,000 mark in a month. The Klang Valley contributed more than 60 of each 100 cases that day. Selangor logged 3,260 cases, while Kuala Lumpur had 1,550, bringing the total in these two areas to 4,819, or 63% of the Tuesday caseload.
‘But, the population of Selangor and KL stands at 8.3 million – 26%, or slightly over a quarter, of the Malaysian population. That works out to this: the area’s contribution to the national Covid-19 rate is some 2½ times its population share. Why? We need to know the answer to that if we are to deal with the latest coronavirus problem.‘
Read here (The Vibes, July 8, 2021)
‘On 8th May 2021 I wrote about how to “Avoid a Covid-19 Disaster in Malaysia”. This crisis has washed over us and the toll in deaths and loss of livelihood has been and continues to be significant. I am now writing about the impending, massive fifth wave. This wave may be so big as to make the current one look pale in contrast. In a sense we have, in the fourth wave, experienced what Italy did last year. Now the fear is that we may experience what India, Peru and some other countries in South America are experiencing.
‘Some of our leaders seem to live in denial of the reality; one even saying that the pandemic in Malaysia is under control. Others have set a value of '4000 cases' as a benchmark to use, but in the face of a high positivity and limited testing this is fraught with problems. A good look at the data and trends suggest that the worst may be yet to come.’
Read here (The Malay Mail, June 25, 2021)
While we take every protective measure to prevent children from getting infected, we need to ask ourselves if we should consider vaccinating children against Covid-19. Some issues to consider the risk and the benefit are discussed below.
Summary
‘The pandemic impacts all of us, even those not infected. We will have to grapple with these issues as parents and a society as we decide about Covid-19 vaccination for children. How effectively we control the outbreak locally and the spread and impact of variants (mutations) will also determine our response and decision regarding this issue.
‘In Malaysia we have yet to make a serious impact on vaccination rates for those at high risk of severe illness and death (the elderly and those with chronic illnesses). No matter how much we want to support children, it is imperative that we push for those at highest risk to be vaccinated before we vaccinate children. In addition, it is vital to vaccinate young adults who are working and mobile as they are important drivers of the pandemic. However we should consider selectively vaccinating children with severe disabilities in residential care, especially if at high risk of exposure to Covid-19.
‘My personal preference would be not to subject our children to mass vaccination against Covid-19 however to control Covid-19 in the community we may have to vaccinate children aged 12-17 years. The recovery of our nation from Covid-19 means the recovery of our children from the severe mental strain that currently impacts them daily. Lives are currently being lived on a ‘pause button’ and vaccination is an important measure to return our society to a semblance of normality.’
Read here (The Malay Mail, June 6, 2021)
‘We (in Malaysia and in the world) are now facing the biggest crisis faced by humankind since the Second World War. We need our government to do the right thing to steer us out of this combined health and economic crisis. The government has to:
‘The government needs the support and trust of the people in order to carry out the above measures. I would submit that unfairly running the government down and undermining its credibility does not help in handling the Covid-19 nightmare.
‘Do criticise if there are shortcomings and if possible, suggest pragmatic steps that can be taken to overcome these. But disparaging everything the government is doing on the basis they are an “illegitimate backdoor government” and therefore everything they do must be faulty, is not helping the situation. Let’s leave partisan politicking aside for now and focus on navigating safely through the Covid-19-induced health/economic storm.’
Read here (Malaysiakini, May 27, 2021)