KUALA TERENGGANU: Prayer halls in mosques cannot be turned into a Covid-19 vaccination area, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim said yesterday.
He said the opening of a vaccination centre (PPV) at mosques should be done in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the Covid-19 National Immunisation Task Force.
"The SOP disallows the use of prayer halls in mosques as a vaccine administrating area.
"A PPV can be opened at a mosque only if it has facilities for the purpose, such as a lecture hall, a library or its own clinic.
"If not, it shouldn't be allowed to operate as a PPV."
Amzad, who is Kuala Terengganu member of parliament, said the issue of using mosques as PPVs came about after certain states launched their own vaccination outreach programmes in mosques without referring to the SOP set by the task force.
"Pictures of prayer halls in mosques being used as a vaccination area have been circulated. There are also pictures of other areas in mosques being used as a waiting area with chairs.
"I have contacted the state health councillors to take action to prevent negative public perception of this noble effort."
He said using prayer halls because there was no other empty space in a mosque area was an unacceptable excuse.
"We don't ask for all mosques to be turned into a PPV.
"We have other places that can be used for that purpose, such as community halls and health clinics," he said adding that instructions had been given to ensure that these incidences did not recur. - Bernama