KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Sin Chew Daily) — The Association for Residential Aged Care Operators of Malaysia (AgeCope) criticizes the Ministry of Health which has yet to arrange vaccination for care homes. So far residents of some 30 homes are already down with COVID-19 infections.

AgeCope secretary Fong Muntoh urges the government to arrange to vaccinate care home residents as soon as possible.

In a video uploaded on Facebook, Fong criticized the Ministry of Health for neglecting senior citizens in care homes.

"I am very disappointed, upset and worried. I feel that Khairy Jamaluddin, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, does not care about the care homes and those living in the homes," he said.

Fong said care homes were regarded as frontliners in battling COVID-19 but care home operators had yet to be notified of vaccination while many other high risk groups had been arranged to be vaccinated.

"After receiving notification from the government, we have helped the senior citizens register. Hari Raya is already over but nothing takes place so far. This is too slow," he said.

Fong said that AgeCope volunteered to help the Ministry of Health in vaccination earlier.

It did not receive any reply from the ministry on the offer.

Worse, about 200 to 300 nurses were transferred out from care homes to handle COVID-19.

Fong said such a move had affected the operation of care homes and currently residents in more than 30 care homes had been infected with COVID-19.

Fortunately, most of the care homes have been complying with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) and manage to keep the death rate and infection rate low.

"We try our best and have drained our resources in caring for the elderly people.

"Many family members are unhappy with us for complying with the strict SOPs as no visit is allowed.

"The homes would also arrange for funerals for those who pass away due to COVID19.

"Care homes have been stretched for more than one year now. We do not know for how long we can still hold on. We hope the government will take effective measures by arranging for residents in care homes to go for vaccination and not to neglect us," he said.