Get vaccinated, seniors urged; Free flu shots a relief for senior citizens but uptake uncertain

 PETALING JAYA: Elderly Malay­sians should not miss the opportunity to get vaccinated free against influenza starting tomorrow, say health experts.

Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said senior citizens, who are eligible for the free vaccination, should take full advantage by registering as soon as possible for the vaccine.

“The flu vaccine is beneficial, especially for the elderly, as it is shown to be effective in protecting against complications from the flu.

“Older persons with comorbidities are at higher risk of complications, which can even lead to hospitalisation and, in some cases, death.

“Taking precautions such as getting vaccinated is strongly advised,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Dr Kalwinder, however, raised concerns over the availability of the flu vaccine at private clinics and hospitals.

“Many patients are now heeding the advice of taking precautions against the flu and asking for the vaccine.

“While we fully support the government’s free vaccination programme for high-risk seniors at government clinics, it is equally important to recognise the vital role general practitioners play in community vaccination efforts.”

He also urged the Health Ministry and vaccine suppliers to ensure adequate distribution of vaccines to private clinics and hospitals to prevent gaps in immunisation coverage.

On Feb 10, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced the expansion of the Influenza Immunisation Programme, which was launched in 2006, to cover not only frontline healthcare workers but also senior citizens aged 60 and above with at least one chronic illness.

The rollout of the voluntary vaccination exercise will begin on Feb 18 and is expected to benefit over 170,000 high-risk senior citizens via appointments made via the MySejahtera app.

Public health expert Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said it is commendable that the government is expanding its immunisation programme by providing free influenza vaccinations for those above 60, particularly those with existing comorbidities.

“The risk of developing severe complications from the flu is significantly higher for elderly individuals, particularly those aged 65 and older.

“This is because they are at a much higher risk compared to younger adults due to their weakened immune system,” she said.

Although she did not provide the exact numbers, Dr Sharifa said flu-related deaths are the highest among the elderly.

“Influenza can result in a host of complications, such as pneumonia, including sepsis.

“Getting vaccinated offers protection to the elderly against developing such complications, which could prove fatal,” she added.She advised senior folk who are eligible to make the effort to get vaccinated.

“Those operating homes or centres for the care of the elderly must make it a priority for seniors under their care to be vaccinated under the programme.”

In 2023, pneumonia surpassed heart-related disease as the leading cause of death in the country, which accounted for 8,181 deaths, or 15.2% of 119,952 medically certified deaths for that year.

Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said the elderly should not take influenza lightly but seize the chance to get vaccinated for free.

“Clinically speaking, there have been cases that have gone badly for those in this group.”

He added that it becomes challenging for doctors treating elderly patients towards recovery due to complications linked to influenza.

Free flu shots a relief for senior citizens but uptake uncertain

Vital living: Darren Tay (second from left) with other senior citizens exercising in Bukit Dumbar, Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: Retiree R. Sega­ran, 63, had been considering a flu shot after hearing about relatives getting sick.

However, concerned about the cost, as he now lives on his savings, he hadn’t enquired about it at private clinics.

So when the government announced free flu jabs for senior citizens with chronic illnesses, he was relieved.

“I have diabetes and hypertension. Since last year, I’ve heard about so many friends and relatives getting the flu, and it seemed to affect them badly. I thought a wave of Covid-19 was back.

“I haven’t caught the flu yet because I stay home with my wife most of the time.

“I am definitely signing up for the free jab via MySejahtera when it starts,” said the former factory technician.

Starting tomorrow, all Malay­sians over 60 with at least one chronic illness are eligible for free influenza vaccinations by registering through the MySejahtera app.

Housewife Doreen Phor, 56, said she would not hesitate to get the free flu vaccine, but she is four years too young.

“I recently got my influenza shot at a private clinic, and it cost me RM80.

“With the increasing number of influenza cases in the community, we should not only protect ourselves but also those around us.

“Although I spend most of my time at home and am relatively safe, others could still carry the virus and spread it,” she said yesterday.

She added that her family members have also received their flu shots and would gladly accept the vaccine if it is offered by the government.

“My last jab was in August, and since the dose is expected to be effective for a year, I would gladly take it again this August if the government provides it for free.”

However, retired fish farmer Teh Ah Teik, 64, remains hesitant about getting the jab.

He has not applied for it despite having taken the flu vaccine once, many years ago.

“A few years back, before travel­ling to Taiwan, I got a flu shot at a local clinic.

“But since I have no plans to travel to cold places anytime soon, I don’t see the need for another flu shot, even if it’s free.

“Instead, I focus on keeping myself healthy by walking for about an hour every day.”

Phor and Teh are among many senior citizens who have expressed mixed opinions on whether to apply for or receive the flu vaccine.

Penang health committee chairman Daniel Gooi said eligibility for the free flu vaccination requires registration and appointments through the MySejahtera app.“A total of 24 health clinics in Penang have been selected to provide the vaccines to eligible ­recipients,” he said.

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Unmasking the danger of privacy coins

 

Technology supporting cryptocurrencies is used in the real world for drug trafficking, human trafficking, sexual exploitation and smuggling of goods 

Cryptocurrencies that emphasise anonymity and encryption are frequently used by criminals

USING state-of-the-art technology to support cryptocurrencies is a double-edged sword. It facilitates cross-border payments and remittances as well as financial inclusion for the underbanked or unbanked but is increasingly used for criminal activities.

It is used in the real world for drug trafficking, human trafficking, sexual exploitation and smuggling of goods, rather than just cybercrime like ransomware attacks.

According to a European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) report in 2022, cryptocurrencies are being used for all types of crime requiring financial transmissions, the scale of which is difficult to estimate. Europol noted that criminals have also become more sophisticated in using cryptocurrencies to in complex money-laundering schemes.

Both Europol and the Basel Institute on Governance, which also published a report in 2022, point to the rapid progress of technologies involving cryptocurrencies and the challenges governments have in keeping up through legislation and law enforcement or the need to develop and adapt through investigative technologies and techniques.

It is only now that anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) processes common in transactions involving fiat money are starting to take into account cryptocurrency transactions.

Bank Negara and the Securities Commission (SC) have guidelines for cryptocurrencies and have hired specialists to monitor or regulate them. Now, the Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC) is looking at raising the capabilities of its officers who address cases in which cryptocurrencies are used to conceal financial trails.

The move involves further specialised training as well as acquiring advanced technology and equipment. In Malaysia, people can own cryptocurrencies and they can be traded on licensed digital exchanges, but are not considered legal tender.

Some say that the MACC is late to the game as the police already have the capabilities through the Kuala Lumpur-based Cryptocurrency Analysis Laboratory, which was jointly opened with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2022. It is the first such laboratory in South-east Asia.

In fact, a series of fraud or scams leveraging cryptocurrencies have been crippled through this crime laboratory capability going from past news reports.

Also, Bank Negara and the SC have been exploring solutions for the past year or two.

A lawyer specialising in cryptocurrency projects shares that its basically track-and-trace to follow the money trail through the blockchain, which is essentially a digital ledger where all transactions are recorded and confirmed. Unlike cash, cryptocurrency transactions are highly traceable from start to finish, and with the right tools, can be mapped out how illicit funds have moved and how they are being funnelled.

When these tools acquire more data, they can also flag out wallet addresses that have been sanctioned or linked to illegal sources, which means authorities will also know whether the funds are tainted.

Compared with the banking system, tracing funds through the blockchain’s public digital ledger is easier, even when these funds cross borders.

According to the lawyer, the police can easily trace illicit fund flows even if a circuitous route is used. Banks have limited tracing ability and cooperation of foreign correspondent banks and law enforcement will be needed once funds cross borders.

Banking laws in other countries may differ pertaining to privacy and disclosure and in most cases, a court order is needed to request information.

There is a need to better understand altcoins such as privacy coins, as these cryptocurrencies that emphasise anonymity and encryption are frequently used by criminals.

There are many privacy coins including Monero, Dash and Zcash but Monero seems to be the cryptocurrency of choice among criminals. They work by enabling anonymous transactions through obscuring both sender and receiver addresses.

What makes them even more useful is that the transaction amounts are also hidden through the use of an obfuscated public ledger specifically for privacy.

The MACC as well as other law enforcement agencies will have to equip themselves with the right tools and know-how to confront these challenges.

Europol describes it thus: “Often illicit funds do not flow straight from wallet to wallet. They instead travel through a multi-step process involving different financial entities, many of which are novel and are not yet part of standardised, regulated financial payment markets.

“Obfuscation methods and other countermeasures continue to be developed and used by criminals.”

Other methods used by criminals include over-the-counter trading in which tracing the trade is almost impossible. Initially used for smaller transactions, there are signs that it is now being used for much bigger ones.

The enormity of the challenges confronting law enforcement agencies such as the MACC is that privacy coins are hard to track as most have been delisted by cryptocurrency exchanges under pressure from governments and no one knows how prevalent the use of these coins is.

Criminal networks often use unlicensed exchanges with looser AML and KYC processes, enabling transactions that involve a complex series of steps to throw off authorities, before eventually being traded for fiat currency.

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BASIC MEASURES WILL KEEP HMPV AT BAY

Understanding HMPV (Human Metapneumovirus) helps us stay ...

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Experts: Virus is common and no cause for panic

 GEORGE TOWN: Despite the spread of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) that brings runny noses to common influenza-like illnesses, Malaysians can still go on their Chinese New Year holidays with peace of mind, say health experts.

Most of the viruses that cause these respiratory disorders are present in Malaysia throughout the year but infection spikes in temperate countries during their winter months can increase local infection rates due to international travel, they said.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) family medicine specialist Dr Mastura Mohd Sopian said HMPV, which is recording a significant number of cases in China, had affected Malaysia due to the heavy flow of travellers between the two countries.

She said genetically, HMPV shares similarities with Covid-19, as both are ribonucleic acid (RNA) based viruses.

“HMPV is not as severe as Covid-19, particularly in terms of transmission risk. It doesn’t spread as quickly nor is it as dangerous as Covid-19.

“While its structure is somewhat similar, the replication process and other genetic factors differ, making it less impactful compared with Covid-19,” she said.

Dr Mastura said the basic precautions learned during the pandemic years are enough to keep HMPV at bay – these include frequent hand-washing, wearing masks, avoiding crowded places and limiting activities in enclosed spaces like malls.

ALSO READ: Health Ministry monitoring rise in acute respiratory infections

USM virologist Dr Kumitaa Theva Das said HMPV is a common virus and most adults would have been infected by it at least once.

“They might not realise it because the symptoms are so much like the flu. There have been cases where the symptoms can progress to bronchitis or pneumonia in those who are very young or elderly with a weakened immune system, but these are rare.

“Like any virus, HMPV can spread when in close contact with droplets left by an infected person, through coughing and sneezing.

'CLICK TO ENLARGE'

“We could also become exposed if we touch our mouth, nose or eyes after touching an infected surface.

“Since HMPV infections occur in younger children, families travelling with kids can be more mindful and seek medical help if a respiratory infection is prolonged or gets more severe,” she added.

State health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said so far the situation in Penang is under control and tightly monitored by health authorities there.

He advised the public to take the same safety measures they did during the Covid-19 pandemic as a precaution and to prevent further spread.

He said those who experience prolonged or worsening symptoms should seek medical attention immediately at the nearest healthcare facility.

Gooi added that the public can use the same techniques they used during the pandemic, like always covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, either by using a tissue or wearing a face mask.

He said wearing a face mask is highly recommended, particularly for people at high risk of infection or those showing symptoms.

This is especially important in enclosed or crowded spaces where the risk of transmission is higher.

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Be good, you are on cop camera

Keeping in check: Konst Wan Mohd Hazwan from the MPV unit showing his body-worn camera at IPD Dang Wangi in Kuala Lumpur. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: If you get stopped by a policeman and there is a green light blinking on his left chest, beware – you are on camera!

And there will be no getting away with any hanky-panky.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

After years of planning, police are finally being equipped with more than 7,000 bodycams, better known as Body Worn Cameras (BWCs).

The implementation of the BWCs will be done nationwide in stages, with frontline personnel – the patrol and traffic units – getting priority.

ALSO READ: BWC use must be monitored, say groups

“It started with the police contingents in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on Oct 15 followed by Perlis on Nov 15 and Johor on Dec 10,” said Comm Datuk Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad, Bukit Aman’s Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director.“So far 2,760 BWCs have been distributed as of Dec 10.

“For other police contingents, the process of registering user IDs for the purpose of check-ins of the use of the cameras is still ongoing,” he told The Star recently.

The full nationwide roll-out for all 7,648 BWCs will be completed by March next year.

“They will be available at 157 district police headquarters and 640 police stations nationwide.

“The distribution of the cameras will prioritise officers and personnel with the Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) and the Motorcycle Patrol Units (URB) as well as those with the department who are conducting crime prevention patrols.

“They will also be distributed to Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department officers conducting traffic enforcement duties.

“BWCs will also be used in other police operations on a case-by-case basis,” he added.

Comm Wan Hassan said a successful pilot run was conducted from June 9 to July 14 at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor police contingents.

The cameras were able to capture all the action of police officers along with their location when they interacted with the public, he said.

“It (BWC use) can elevate the image of the police force and increase people’s confidence in the police. It also improves transparency,” he added.

All those assigned with BWCs will be provided ample training prior to using it, he said.

“The BWCs will also be able to record up to eight hours of audio and video and there is a green light indicator (on top of the device) showing that it is switched on.

“Each user is equipped with a special BWC ID while on duty. Failure to switch on the BWC while on duty will result in disciplinary action,” he explained.

Those wearing BWCs are required to keep them on throughout their shift except during prayers or when going to the toilet.

“The video and audio recordings (from the BWCs) can be used as evidence in an investigation or prosecution.

“It can also protect the police and people from any baseless allegations.

“The BWCs will not only be able to curb wrongdoing and integrity problems among MPV and URB personnel, but also protect them from unwarranted criticism while going about their duties.

“We hope it will increase the integrity of those on duty and curb any possible wrongdoing or misdemeanours,” he added.

Asked if there were plans to expand the use of the BWCs to other police divisions and units, Comm Wan Hassan said plans were in the pipeline.

“However, we will need additional funds make these plans a reality,” he said.

Comm Wan Hassan said the police would move forward with the use of the latest technology in line with modern policing to curb and prevent crime.

“With technology advancing further, police work has become more challenging. I hope the BWCs would be able to improve the integrity of those in the force and increase the ‘feel safe’ factor among the public,” he added.

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