With many eager to travel in the coming weeks, the government has issued new SOPs for vaccinated individuals who have received their inoculations outside of Malaysia.

In latest news concerning vaccinated individuals who are planning on traveling as soon as domestic state lines reopen, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba has announced for further screening and validation to be conducted on people who have received their required doses outside of Malaysia. The main reason for this new requirement is to “assess the authenticity of the type of vaccine received.”

Tourists or Malaysians living abroad who have returned home and have completed both Covid-19 doses are required to bring all relevant documents or vaccine certification as proof to their nearest district health office (PKD) for verification and validation to obtain a digital vaccination certificate on the MySejahtera application.

“After getting confirmation from PKD, the State Health Department will send (information and data) to the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) in Putrajaya. The centre will then inform MySejahtera to update and issue a digital certificate in the application.

“Regardless of the nationality or foreigner, most importantly, we want to confirm whether the vaccination certificate issued abroad was genuine or not and to find out the type of vaccine received,” he told reporters after visiting the vaccination centre at the Austin International Convention Centre yesterday in Johor Bahru.

He added that vaccination certificates will be checked and validated by health officials at the country’s entry points as Malaysia begins to welcome tourists back. Referring to Langkawi being ready to receive the arrival of tourists from September 16, Dr Adham said health officials will be stationed at entry points of the resort island to facilitate tracking tourists who have completed Covid-19 vaccination.

“In addition, we will also inform them to comply with standard operating procedures (SOP),” said Dr Adham, who is also the co-chairman of the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF).

Reported by Bernama, he announced that 36.1 million doses of vaccines have been dispensed throughout Malaysia, with 20.4 million individuals having received the first dose while 67.4 percent have completed both doses of Covid-19 vaccinations.

He added that the CITF was urged to increase seven more mobile vaccination centres in Johor, to add to the existing 13 units to expedite the vaccination process in the state before the coming monsoon season. So far, a total of 2.25 million people in Johor have received the first dose, while 1.42 million have completed both doses.

“Johor is the second state to receive the largest supply of vaccine in August and September. It is also the second state to receive the largest supply of vaccines, which is 1.98 million doses.

“The efforts to provide vaccines in the state will be further enhanced from time to time,” he said.