GEORGE TOWN, Aug 15 — Two shopping malls in Penang will start offering COVID-19 vaccination for workers under the Retail Industry Vaccination (RiVAC) initiative tomorrow, kicking off the programme in the northern region.
Malaysia Shopping Mall Association (PPKM) president Tan Sri Teo Chiang Kok said the two shopping malls selected for the programme are the Gurney Paragon Mall here and the Design Village Outlet Mall in Batu Kawan on the mainland.
RiVAC is a collaboration between PPKM, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) to provide vaccination for workers of shopping malls nationwide.
“The PPV (vaccination centre) at Gurney Paragon Mall will be in operation between Aug 16 and 20, to provide 6,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine for retail staff members on the island.
“The one located at Design Village Outlet Mall will operate between Aug 18 and 22, with 4,000 doses of vaccine on standby for retailers living on the mainland,” he told Bernama today.
Tan said RiVAC had been launched in Kuching, the Klang Valley and Melaka, and would be extended to Johor and Pahang soon.
He said RiVAC is meant for only staff members in the retail industry and is not open to the public.
Those registered for RiVAC would have to pay a RM50 fee per person to receive two doses of the vaccine.
“While vaccines are supplied free of charge by the authorities, the paid fee is used to cover out of pocket expenses comprising RM30 to Protect Health for the cost of administering the injection and RM20 to the venue organiser to partially defray venue expenses,” he added.
He pointed out that the charges were heavily subsidised by the PPV concerned as it costs up to RM150 to vaccinate one person at the venue, including logistics, manpower and standby ambulance services costs.
“We hope that when all of our staff members in the Malaysian retail industry are fully vaccinated, they will not only protect themselves against COVID-19 but more importantly, to duly protect shoppers and the public,” he added.
