KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) today has urged the Covid-19 immunisation task force (CITF) to reveal the vaccination timeline and list of media practitioners who will receive the vaccines.
In a statement, Geramm said by revealing the list would allow media organisations, particularly at state levels, to ensure that more than 5,000 members of the media practitioners would be included in the immunisation programme.
"As of yesterday, it is understood that media practitioners in Johor, Kedah, Melaka and Perak were among those who had yet to receive their vaccination appointments.
"We also seek CITF's cooperation to reveal its set timeline to complete the vaccination process of the listed media practitioners.
"Geramm believes this process will assist the media to better manage their daily coverage in a way that would minimise harm to journalists who are still waiting their turn to be vaccinated," it said.
Geramm said it supported the call by the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) on those who had yet to be vaccinated not to cover any field assignments either indoors or outdoors.
It also urged media companies management to consider allowing those who were yet to be vaccinated to turn down or to accept an assignment given to them.
"For those left with no choice, particularly photographers and videographers, aside from self-regulation, we appeal for cooperation from all parties to assist in ensuring compliance to Covid-19 prevention protocols.
"In these times of uncertainty, Geramm once again stressed that the media vaccination process should be expedited and that priority is given to reporters and crew on the ground over those with an option to work from home or office," it said.
Geramm also welcomed the progress of the #CucukMyPress movement which had resulted in the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine being administered to media practitioners in Putrajaya yesterday.
"We are also boosted by the solidarity spirit shown among media practitioners, including state-level associations, to fight for the rights to carry out our duties in a safe manner," it said.
Yesterday, around 100 media personnel were inoculated in Putrajaya after a widespread campaign on social media on June 6, using the tag, #CucukMyPress by the media practitioners nationwide calling for the government to expedite their vaccination appointments.