PETALING JAYA, July 13 (Sin Chew Daily) – Health experts are of the opinion that people working or volunteering at vaccination centers (PPV), COVID-19 assessment centers (CAC) or quarantine and low-risk treatment centers (PKRC) should have been given two doses of vaccine each.

Besides, they feel that all vaccination centers must have fixed sanitization timetables while existing SOPs, including the availability of good ventilation system, must be reviewed in order to minimize the risk of infection.

Universiti Malaya public health specialist Dr Victor CW Hoe told Sin Chew Daily the vaccination centers must make sure the ventilation system is adequate.

"Ventilation is a problem that is often overlooked. Good ventilation can minimize the risk of infection."

He also said SOPs implemented at the IDCC vaccination center should be reviewed after a large number of workers there have tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr Hoe also mentioned about the problem of screening tests, as some patients have tested positive only after their third test.

"A negative test result therefore doesn't mean a person is not infected with the virus!" he said.

He also said we cannot wholly depend on the government to manage COVID-positive patients, adding that public-private cooperation could help mitigate the current tense situation in the country.

"Patients testing positive for COVID-19 can also visit a general practitioner instead of going to CAC to get the assessment letter to go on home quarantine."

He said general practitioners can monitor the conditions of patients and send them to a hospital when their conditions worsen.

Public Health Specialist Association president Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said all vaccination centers and CAC must strictly adhere to the SOPs.

He suggested that the government should set up more centers and conduct regular screening tests to ease congestion.

UPM public health expert (epidemiology and biostatistics) Associate Professor Dr Malina Osman agreed that all personnel at the vaccination centers should be vaccinated and SOPs strictly adhered to.

She said many people who visited the CAC at Malawati Stadium were residents outside Petaling district.

She urged the public to check the health ministry's list and go to other assessment centers to avoid congestion.

Meanwhile, former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye felt that all vaccination centers must have a fixed timetable for sanitization.

"If all the workers at the PPV have been vaccinated and the vaccination center practices preventive measures such as good ventilation, sanitization, social distancing and wearing of face masks while barring people with symptoms from entering the center, then the risk of cross infection will be very low."