PUTRAJAYA, September 19 – In preparation for the COVID-19 endemic era, the government will allocate more than RM471.6 million for the purpose of providing COVID-19 Care Package (PPC) to Malaysian Families category B40 in an effort to ensure themselves and their families are free from COVID-19 infection. These efforts, among others, are aimed at easing the financial burden of B40 household spending and training themselves to cultivate new norms, thus helping to protect their families from COVID-19 virus infection. Accordingly, the government will distribute PPC assistance containing:
– Reusable face mask pack (4 pieces per family); – COVID-19 self-test kit (4 kits per family);
– 1 pulse oximeter;
– 1 thermometer; as well as
– Usage guide leaflet and health info.
The current PPC grant will start with the recipients of Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (ACA) who already have families. These were among B40 households who were married with or without children; or a single mother or father with children. The initiative is expected to benefit approximately 3.6 million B40 families. In total, there are 8.4 million ACA recipients. In addition, in an effort to increase protection to the vulnerable from the risk of COVID-19 infection, the government also agreed to implement a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The priority of giving this third dose will be focused on high-risk groups first such as health frontline members, immunocompromised patients, the elderly with comorbidities and individuals living or working in long-term care facilities. ), when the immunization coverage of the adult population nationwide exceeds 80%.
This third dose may increase the level of immunity in individuals at high risk for COVID-19 infection, which may decrease over a period of time after the second dose. To that end, a panel of medical and health experts is developing guidelines for the implementation of this third dose. All details regarding the implementation of the COVID-19 Care Package and the administration of the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be announced by the Minister of Health.
