AstraZemeca vaccine wait-list closed, priority for those already registered.
All AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses were snapped up in less than four hours after it was opened for registration.
The registration for the 268,800 AstraZeneca doses started around noon at https://www.vaksincovid.gov.my/.
There were initially technical issues due to a large number of people visiting the site.
This resulted in the system telling users that there were no longer any more appointment slots within minutes the registration was opened.
However, this was quickly fixed, and the appointments were fully snapped up by 3.15pm. The designated centres to administer the shots are Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, World Trade Centre KL and Ideal Convention Centre Shah Alam.
“All AstraZeneca slots are fully booked. My apologies for the initial glitch and multiple refreshes,” Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said.
Khairy co-chairs the special committee on Covid-19 vaccine supply, which oversees the vaccination effort.
Khairy later disclosed that the window to join the waiting list for the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was also now closed.
Earlier, Putrajaya opened a waiting list for Malaysians, who were unable to secure appointments for one of the 268,000 doses of the vaccine.
The government had decided to offer the AstraZeneca vaccine on a voluntary basis due to concerns of very rare blood clots, particularly among younger people.
The government initially planned a mandated roll out of the AstraZeneca vaccine for those aged 60 and above.
However, Khairy was worried that this may deter people who do not want the AstraZeneca vaccine from registration for the overall immunisation programme that also includes other vaccines such as Pfizer-Biontech and Sinovac which do not have blood clots issues.
Recipients who register through the normal immunisation programme are not allowed to choose their Covid-19 vaccine.
Recently, Sarawak Local Government and Housing Minister Dr Sim Jui Hian rejected the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the state.
People who are willing to bear the small risk with AstraZeneca, in exchange, are given fast-tracked access to the Covid-19 vaccine.
The first AstraZeneca dose will be administered as early as next Wednesday (May 5).
Khairy said Malaysia is expected to receive another million doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine this month.
He, however, did not specify the exact date of its scheduled arrival but said the incoming shipment was via Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access or Covax.
“We are scheduled to receive a million more doses this month via Covax. We will expand the opt-in in other states (except Sarawak, which has declined) and ensure those without access to internet etc can also sign up,” he said in a Twitter posting.