Rm50,000 Aid for Those Who Suffer COVID-19 Vaccine Side-Effects

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba announced that the government had allocated RM10 million for special financial aid to Malaysians and foreigners who experience negative side-effects after undergoing vaccination under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme. 

The minister said the fund, which is under the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund (KWABBN), will be handled by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). 

According to Dr Adham, vaccine recipients who suffer severe side-effects that require long-term hospital treatment would receive RM50,000. If the recipient is permanently disabled or dies due to the COVID-19 vaccine, the government would provide RM500,000 aid.

He said that the special financial aid is the government's proactive move to handle the possibility of adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

 
The minister said that they hope the special assistance could help meet the needs of the vaccine recipients and their family who might be affected by the vaccine's side effects. 

The Health Ministry had formed three committees that will conduct the side-effect assessment:

1. The Special Pharmacovigilance Committee for Covid-19 Vaccine Monitoring would assess and monitor the adverse side-effects of the immunisation and safety issues linked to the vaccine. 
2. The Medical Technical Committee made up of medical experts will determine if an application for the special financial aid has a causal relationship with the COVID-19 vaccine.  
3. The Special Financial Assistance Steering Committee for Covid-19 Vaccine Exigencies would approve the special financial assistance based on the other two committees' decisions.

 

Dr Adham said that 20 side effects had been reported so far, such as:

1. Dizziness
2. Shortness of breath
3. Nausea
4. Numbness
5. Rashes
6. Chest tightness
7. Itchiness
8. Vomiting
9. Palpitations

He said that these side effects were reported via the MySejahtera application and the Vaccine Distribution Centres' observation station. 

The minister said those who experienced chest discomfort after receiving the vaccine had been taken to the hospital for further observation before being discharged, pending their second vaccine shot 21 days after the first dose of the vaccine. He added that the individuals involved should receive the second dose at the hospital for thorough observation. 

Dr Adham stated that about 80% of vaccine recipients had experienced injection site pain and swelling, fatigue, and headache.

 

 

Financial Assistance for B40 Group

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that those in the B40 group who have lost income would receive a one-off aid of RM500. Recipients of Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) who earn RM1,000 and below will receive an RM500 additional payment. 

The aid, which is under the Strategic Programme to Empower the People and Economy (PEMERKASA), involves an allocation of RM1.2 billion for 2.4 million recipients.

The two categories of aid recipients, aged from 21 to 60, do not require any registration. The government will verify the recipients' information via LHDN, EPF, and Socso.

These are the requirements for the RM500 additional aid:

1. Malaysian citizen aged 21-60.
2. Under the B40 category
3. BPR receiver with income of RM1,000 and below
4. Loss of income

Those who are qualified will receive financial aid credited into their bank accounts beginning in June 2021.

 

Source: Edge Prop, The Borneo Post

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