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The mass rollout and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines on the global scale have become increasingly likely. In Malaysia, the government has recently purchased 12.8 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines and participated in COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX).

Nonetheless, whilst the successful development of vaccines had offered great hopes in ending the global pandemic, one must refrain from being overly optimistic about the immediate outcome of vaccinations. Vaccinations might eventually fail to defeat the pandemic, if (1) an increasing number of people become anti-vaxxers and blatantly reject vaccines, and (2) the administration of vaccines are not implemented systematically and effectively.

Anti-vaxxers

Before the mounting need for vaccines driven by COVID-19, anti-vaccinations movements have been steadily, albeit quietly, expanding in Malaysia. These movements have largely been associated with considerations of the religious status and potential side effects of vaccines.

Having said that, one of the predominant worries among the sceptics in Malaysia concerns the halal status of the newly-developed vaccines. This religious factor could potentially motivate some people to reject the COVID-19 vaccines, strengthening the stance of existing anti-vaxxers in Malaysia. According to the Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (Imam), the rejection of immunisations is primarily caused by conspiracies circulating around social media platforms, which often adopt pseudo-religious arguments to attack the religious status of vaccines.

The integration of rigid pseudo-religious arguments into rejections of vaccines would ultimately present substantial hurdles in ending the pandemic, especially the refusal of anti-vaxxers to be vaccinated. If such pseudo-religious arguments are really to be realised, neither scientific explanation of the composition of vaccines, nor endorsements by Islamic associations like Imam would be able to alter their irrational beliefs. 

Moreover, in the past, some anti-vaxxers in Malaysia also rejected vaccinations by expressing doubts regarding the potential side effects of vaccines in general. This fear is heightened with regards to the COVID-19, with massive doubts being placed on the fact that it was developed at such an unprecedented pace.

Although one might think free choices should be given to individuals to decide on whether to receive the vaccination, the reality is that the society as a whole must be collectively vaccinated against the virus (with the government’s aim of vaccinating 70% of the population) to ensure herd immunity. Without full support from the public, the vaccination effort is likely to fail and the already prolonged pandemic might persist in the country.

The importance of societal cooperation in the vaccination effort proves that we have no space for irrational sceptics and anti-vaxxers. In curbing the irrational resistance against vaccinations, the government must exert its best effort in cultivating the awareness among the people, debunking false information, and acting decisively when it needs to.

As of now, to curb the anxieties regarding the halal status of the vaccine, government agencies such as JAKIM, are in the process of endorsing these vaccines, while the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Conference of Rulers will also be involved in approving and endorsing the statement regarding the halal status of the vaccine. Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham himself similarly claimed that certifying a halal status would be unnecessary for the administration of the vaccines. 

Regarding the fear of potential side effects, the government has claimed that it would fully evaluate the safety of the vaccines (specifically the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines) before administering these vaccines to the people.

While such efforts are necessary in hegemonizing the seemingly excessive influence of anti-vaxxers, it is unclear that having statements would be sufficiently effective in deflating anti-vaxxers and gaining the confidence of the wider population. Thus, decisive policies, albeit needing to face the potentially mounting political pressure, must be pushed through to attain the greater good in the society.

Inefficient Policies

The government must ensure the implementation of a systematic approach in administering the vaccines. One of the biggest threats to the vaccination effort is complacency in administration, which will consequently lead to a failure in protecting the people.

Primarily, transparency and coherence must be ensured in implementing the delivery of vaccines. For instance, the e-government service provider MyEG is reported to be involved in distributing vaccines provided by the Chinese Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co Ltd. In response as to why a concessionaire without any prior track records in transporting medical supplies (such as MyEG) is permitted to transport vaccines, the government stated that such deals are solely dealt by private firms, in which the government does not intervene.

However, the notion of transparency in this deal is very much in doubt. Arguably, the government should not simply dismiss it as ‘private deals’, and instead be transparent in regulating the trade and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, considering its very important status currently. Moreover, potentially corrupt practices in such policies (which will directly affect the lives of the people) must constantly be scrutinised and held accountable.

The government must also ensure its calibre in executing the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Fairness and equality must be upheld in delivering the vaccines, with particular emphasis on non-discrimination by virtue of race, religion or social class. The much-criticised selective enforcement of Movement Control Order (MCO) rules should not be mirrored in the mode of the distribution of vaccines.

In conclusion, while the rapid and successful development of COVID-19 vaccines is highly encouraging, the threats of anti-vaxxers and inefficient policies need to be properly addressed to avoid  jeopardising the long-awaited help of vaccines. In the matter of people’s lives and livelihood, the government must be decisive and coherent; and those who hold power in such a critical juncture must be held accountable for whatever they do to safeguard our beloved country.