KOTA BARU: Syed Hassan Syed Bakar did not think twice about making a return trip of more than 90km to make sure his elderly Chinese neighbour, Gan Giok Hiang, 90, could get the Covid-19 vaccine at Kubang Kerian.
Syed Hassan, 60, said the lockdown meant Gan's son in Kota Baru was unable to take her to Universiti Sains Malaysia's health campus in Kubang Kerian to be vaccinated.
"I volunteered to do so. We left Rantau Panjang at 9.30am for the 45km trip (one-way) and reached the vaccination centre about 11am. Once we reached the centre, we did not have to wait long.
"Since Gan needed a wheelchair to move about, she was accompanied by her 79-year-old niece, Lim Mik Way@ Lim Mik Wang.
"Lim was lucky because the health worker offered her the vaccine since she is in the high-risk group and is a registered patient with Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital," he said when met at the vaccination centre on Wednesday.
Syed Hassan said his sister, Sharifah Zainab, 63, had helped Gan to register for the vaccination via the MySejahtera application about two weeks ago.
"My sister filled in her phone number as my neighbour does not have a mobile phone and also it is easier for anyone to call about the vaccine appointment date.
"Once my neighbour received her appointment, my sister reminded me to take her to the vaccination centre. And this is nothing new to me as I have taken my neighbours for their hospital appointments before.
"I have known Gan and Lim since I was a child. Whenever I needed help, one of them would step up. We have been neighbours for the longest time and it is only natural for us to help each other."
Gan said she was initially apprehensive since she had high blood pressure but she felt good after getting the jab.
"Before being vaccinated, medical staff briefed me and checked my health first. The vaccination process was really fast and before I knew it, I got vaccinated," she said, adding that everyone must take the Covid-19 vaccine to protect themselves and others.