In a Facebook post, former science, technology and innovation minister Yeo Bee Yin said the government’s numbers “don’t add up”.

She said “herd immunity” would only be achievable this year if the government redefines its definition, which is currently if 80% of the country is vaccinated, and increases its targeted vaccination rate.

Her successor and the coordinating minister of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, Khairy Jamaluddin, had earlier told reporters he was confident the government could reach its vaccination target by the end of the year, with inoculation rates set to be ramped up in the coming months.

Yeo said even if the country is able to reach its target of administering 160,000 doses a day by July, this would only allow us to reach the current target by April next year, which is assuming Malaysia is able to avoid other speed bumps, like the supply issues currently faced.

If the threshold for herd immunity is reduced to 70% of the population, Malaysia would only hit that mark in March 2022 if the 160,000 daily doses is maintained, Yeo added.

The Bakri MP also said contingency plans need to be put in place to prepare for hiccups in the vaccination process, such as procurement delays or flooding during monsoon season.

She said the government must plan for a variety of scenarios and formulate plans accordingly, such as how vaccines will be delivered, the different facility requirements and the personnel that would be needed.

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