KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 — The government will start calling people who have downloaded the MySejahtera mobile phone app and ask them to register for the national Covid-19 immunisation programme if they haven’t done so already.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the government will also make house-to-house visits in targeted areas where technological infrastructure is lacking, to help residents register.

"We will start making calls to the public who are on the MySejahtera app but have not registered for the Covid-19 vaccine, for instance to help those who have problems registering,” Khairy who is coordinating the national immunisation programme told reporters during an online joint press conference with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba. 

When asked about the low vaccination registration rate, Khairy said it was the public’s ‘wait and see’ attitude that is to blame.

"Malaysians now have this ‘wait and see’ attitude. They want to wait and see how those who have received their jabs are doing.

"I am confident that the registration rate will increase from time to time. When they see that their neighbours and relatives have received the vaccine, they will change their minds,” he said.

At the same time, Khairy said there was a need for the government to increase reach-out efforts as some people might be unaware of the immunisation programme.

"Like when Dr Adham and I both returned to our respective constituencies, we found that there are some who had no idea about the immunisation programme,” he said.

He added that among the target groups that the government plans to reach out to are those with a history of health risks and the disabled community.

"We want to make sure that no one is left out of the immunisation programme.

"Later this week, I will be meeting the MPs from both the government and Opposition bloc to get their cooperation to help achieve success with the immunisation programme,” he said, while also assuring that foreigners, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants will be covered.

He also appealed to all strata of society to spread the word on the importance of getting vaccinated against Covid-19.