Phase 4 of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PIKAS) Underway

The Special Committee on COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee (JKJAV) co-chaired by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and Ministry of Health (MOH) has agreed that the Program Imunisasi Industri COVID-19 Kerjasama Awam-Swasta (PIKAS) will be launched as Phase 4 of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Program (PICK) to accelerate immunisation of the Rakyat. This is to expedite the attainment of herd immunity among the community. 

PIKAS is a public-private partnership immunisation program aimed at employees of which MITI has been tasked to coordinate the immunisation for employees in the manufacturing sector. Several other ministries will also be responsible for vaccination of employees in their respective sectors. Participation of companies and employees in PIKAS is voluntary. 

PIKAS is initiated in response to calls from industry associations, business chambers of commerce and Small and Medium Enterprises to help the Government accelerate the immunisation for the Rakyat. 

Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry, The Honourable Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the Government is committed to ensuring employees have free vaccines under PIKAS, supported by the private sector in administering vaccines utilising private medical practitioners, implemented nationwide including vaccination at factory premises.

Implementation of PIKAS began on 16 June 2021 with on-site vaccination at designated factories and industrial locations. Companies in critical manufacturing sub-sectors including electrical and electronics, food processing, iron and steel, medical devices, personal protective equipment (PPE), oil and gas and rubber products including medical glove manufacturing sub-sectors will be prioritised for vaccination. These sectors are critical in supporting the supply chain of essential products and services as well as the construction, maintenance and smooth functioning of critical infrastructures including utilities and public healthcare systems. 

Further to earlier engagements, MITI will conduct additional sessions with industry associations and business chambers of commerce with regard to coordinating with MITI on the implementation process. MITI has thus far received applications from approximately 500 companies with a total of 106,591 workers to participate in PIKAS. Other companies interested to participate are welcome to submit their applications through their industry associations and business chambers of commerce.

Workers need to be protected against COVID-19 to ensure the nation’s essential supply chains of products and services remain undisrupted

Priority of vaccination of companies will be based on several considerations including company’s location in COVID-19 red zones. Companies are subjected to terms and conditions that include employees having registered with MySejahtera under PICK. Employers shall not deduct administration fees paid to the private medical general practitioners and for usage of private-run vaccine administration centres from employee’s salary including in cases where the employee is no longer employed by the company before full immunisation of the employee. 

While the vaccination for the most vulnerable groups remains a priority for the Government under PICK and will not be compromised, the implementation of PIKAS is imperative to protect workers against the risk of infection.