Selangor Journal
The Covid-19 mobile registration counter set up by the Dusun Tua community service centre at the Segar Perdana morning market, on March 21, 2021. — Picture via FACEBOOK/EDRY FAIZAL

Reasons behind vaccine hesitancy among elders include needle phobia, doubts

By Zareef Muzammil

SHAH ALAM, April 5 — Fear of needles and doubt in vaccines are some of the reasons why older adults refuse to sign-up for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

Dusan Tua state representative Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof said the problem was traced when his community service centre had set up mobile registration counters at the Segar Perdana morning market, Alam Jaya morning market and Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Batu 9.

“I am not surprised if some of them are not clear about the registration process as they may not be digital-savvy but my concern is towards those who have a fear of needles or have vaccine doubts and decide to take a ‘wait-and-see’ approach.

“Therefore, I ask for their (adult) children to be wary of their parents back in their hometown and convince them to sign-up for the vaccine as part of the measures to protect themselves from the Covid-19 outbreak,” he told SelangorKini.

Edry Faizal said over 100 individuals have dropped by the mobile counters in the three locations, with a majority of them are senior citizens from the Tionghoa community aged 50 years and above.

“We will move to other markets to ensure that more people will get themselves registered under the national Covid-19 vaccination plan,” he said.

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