Senior citizen gives in to grandchildren's vaccination pep talk

Mat Zin Abdullah, 90, said he was not anti-vaccine but had delayed doing so because he felt he was not important enough to be given priority.

"In terms of health I am fine, I don't have a chronic disease and I'm at home most of the time. I don't go out that's why I don't feel the need to get the vaccine just yet. Let those with things to attend to get theirs first.

"But after my grandchildren gave me a pep talk, that I could not hang out with friends at the coffee shop or go to the mosque (without getting the vaccine), I felt inspired to do so," he said when met by reporters at the Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) vaccination centre (PPV) yesterday.

The senior citizen who has 14 children, 129 grandchildren, 97 great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild looked calm and cheerful throughout the vaccination process.

When asked on his secret to staying healthy - maintaining good eyesight, hearing, and good memory until now, Mat Zin said he was always disciplined in observing a healthy diet, had been actively gardening and performing sunat (non-obligatory) prayers since young.

Meanwhile, one of his grandchildren, Safuwan Mohd Saidi, 31, said he and his cousin often persuaded their grandfather to get the vaccine since the second phase of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme for senior citizens started last April.

"Our grandfather's reason for not doing so is that he is still healthy and there is no need to rush to get the vaccine. But thanks to the constant persuasion of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he finally agreed.

"I hope more youths out there will take on the responsibility of persuading parents, grandparents or great-grandparents to get the vaccine. Never mind if it may take a while as long as they still get protection from COVID-19," he said.

Meanwhile, UniSZA Teaching Hospital director Dr Nik Ahmad Shaifuddin Nik Him said 4,173 of the first dose and 205 of the second dose had been given since the PPV at the university started operating on June 13.

"Every weekend, UniSZA goes down to the ground to conduct an outreach programme in rural areas to help speed up the government's intention to achieve 80 per cent herd immunity by October," he said.