KUALA LUMPUR (June 4): Malaysia is looking at providing incentives to shore up registration for Covid-19 vaccination, which remains near 50% of the adult population.

“We are looking at some incentives. [We are] discussing with the Treasury,” Khairy Jamaludin told The Edge, without providing specifics or a timeline.

Khairy, who heads the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, also said he is in favour of providing ‘carrots’ before wielding a ‘stick’ at those who have yet to register to support the national vaccination drive towards achieving herd immunity for Covid-19.

As at June 2, 12.58 million have registered for vaccines, being 51.9% of the population above 18 years old.

To achieve herd immunity, the Government wants to inoculate 80% or about 25 million of Malaysia’s 32.75 million population by year-end.

At least 2.1 million people have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine as of June 2, of whom 1.11 million have completed two doses.  A total of 3.21 million doses of vaccines have been administered to date.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had reportedly directed the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV) to prepare a contingency plan should the registration rate for vaccination continue to fall short of the 80% needed to attain herd immunity.

He told Bernama today that the Government is studying the possibility of taking legal action against anyone who dissuades Malaysians from getting vaccinated for Covid-19.