World Trade Centre KL congested as walk-ins 'try their luck' without prior vaccine appointments

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): Overcrowding at Pusat Pemberian Vaksin AstraZeneca (PPVAZ), World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), which today kicked off the biggest vaccination exercise to date under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, was due to many turning up to try their luck for a vaccine jab without an appointment.

In a statement, the Covid-19 Immunisation Task force or CITF said the vaccination centre was congested after it reopened this morning following the Hari Raya Aidilfitri break.

"The issue stemmed from arrivals of vaccine recipients at the WTCKL much earlier than their scheduled appointments, thus causing congestion at the venue. For example, there were instances of arrivals at 2pm for 6pm vaccination appointments,” said the statement.

There was also a significant number of walk-ins 'trying their luck' without prior appointments, which contributed further to the congestion, it said in a statement.

Concerned about crowd safety and comfort, in particular amid the current high number of Covid-19 cases in the country, the CITF urged the public to adhere to the following:

• Do not come too early before your appointment time. Please arrive at the venue between 15 and 30 minutes earlier than your scheduled appointment. Members of the public are advised to arrive no earlier than 30 minutes before the scheduled appointments to avoid overcrowding.
• Follow the instructions of officers at the vaccination centre and ensure compliance with the venue’s SOPs (standard operating procedures).
• Be patient and be mindful of physical distancing, and ensure that you have the mask on all the time throughout the vaccination process period.
• Leave the WTCKL soonest after your vaccination process has been completed and do not linger at the venue, especially in the lobby area, to avoid overcrowding.

Earlier today, National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said those without prior appointments should not turn up at vaccination centres, while he advised those with appointments to be present about 15 to 30 minutes early to avoid crowding the place.

He also said prospective vaccine recipients who are either persons under investigation, persons under surveillance or close contacts of Covid-19 patients are not allowed to turn up at vaccination centres, following reports that several individuals with such status were found present at the vaccination centres when they should have been at home under quarantine.

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