KUCHING (June 15): Normah Medical Specialist Centre has introduced an innovative ‘one-chair’ approach for Covid-19 vaccine administration, which sees recipients seated in the same chair for the vaccination and observation process.
Corporate and Business Development deputy head Bidari Mohamad Suhaili explained when recipients arrive at Normah, their identity would be verified and then they will be taken to the vaccination centre without their family members.
“Our team will take care of them while they are here. After they have signed the consent form, we get them seated and then our nurses will move around to vaccinate these people. All in all, our process is very fast as people don’t have to wait too long,” he told The Borneo Post today.
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Bidari said there is also a drive-through service under the covered parking lot area for those with special needs.
“When the hospital calls you to confirm your attendance, and if you are or you have bedridden or disabled patients, you can use the drive-through service but you must notify the hospital that you are in that category.
“Then the security or Rela will take care of it and give you a number and you proceed to the drive-through. You don’t have to get out from the car as we will vaccinate you in your car,” he said.
Bidari said these are part of the hospital’s efforts to help the state government and Ministry of Health (MoH) speed up the vaccination programme by reaching as many people as possible in a safe manner.
He noted in the past two days that recipients have been happy with the hospital’s service.
“We go to the people, rather than the people come to us. This is our principle. They don’t have to wait for us, we go to them. That is what service is all about.
“We target 1,000; we hope to hit 1,000 every day so that we can (achieve) herd immunity in the community,” he said, adding that the hospital had a good turnout on its first day yesterday with almost 100 per cent attendance.
Bidari encouraged all who have registered for vaccination to check their venues via MySejahtera as everything is still arranged through the application.
“If your vaccination venue is Normah, then you don’t have to come too early because it’s very fast here,” he added.
After a visit to Normah’s vaccination centre yesterday, Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian had commended its “innovative ways of giving vaccines”.
A nurse vaccinates an elderly recipient in a vehicle under the drive-through service. — Photo by Chimon Upon
In a Facebook post, Dr Sim urged vaccination centres to continue evolving to improve efficiency and convenience.
“Vaccinators move while people sit in the same chair — from registration, getting vaccinated, and observation.
“Continue evolving (in) the process of vaccination to improve efficiency and convenience. (It is a) challenging balancing as we want to vaccinate as fast and as soon as possible now the vaccines arrived in substantial doses every week,” he said.