A senior citizen in Penang woke up today all excited about receiving her first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Although she initially had misgivings about getting inoculated, these feelings had since turned to pride in knowing she was doing her bit for the country by ensuring that she stayed healthy for herself and those around her.
What the poor dear did not expect this morning was to return home "empty-handed."
After getting impatient for not being called up for her first dose, the senior citizen had enlisted the help of family members to register her for the AstraZeneca vaccine, for which she succeded in getting a slot.
By then, her MySejahtera app had displayed a notification for her to receive her vaccine (not AstraZeneca) shot today and she thought nothing of checking her app last night or this morning for any last-minute updates.
She was sadly turned away through no fault of the medical frontliners manning the vaccination operations.
Who are we to blame for a situation where the tech-talk appears to be impressive but systems are still not in place to support it?
Elsewhere on Penang Island and the mainland, residents woke up to what seemed to be promising news ...
A private hospital had taken to social media, asking for an "expression of interest" from those who may be wanting to get the Sinovac vaccination.
No timeline or availability were disclosed although the said hospital stated clearly that the jabs would not be free.
Frustrated and impatient Penangites were ready to abandon their earlier efforts via MySejahtera and to forget about the AstraZeneca slots they had obtained previously with great difficulty.
By this afternoon, the messaging from the said private hospital took a different twist which left many wondering if the institution had intended to profit from the desperation of Malaysians wanting to be vaccinated.
A perceived back-peddling became evident when things began to sound vague and the said hospital had to divulge that its so-called programme was not part of the government's National Covid Immunisation Programme.
Why could it not be made clear at the onset that this was a privately-paid vaccination programme which was not linked to the government's?
Efforts should have also been made at the beginning that the so-called "expression of interest" was in no way to data mine or place pressure on any party to "register."
In sharp contrast to the early morning communications, another private hospital this evening annouced in crisp and clear English that it had been appointed as a Covid-19 Vaccination Centre under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to boost daily vaccination rates with effect from June 14. The hospital was also clear that the programme is free, and advised the public to register themselves via MySejahtera or www.vaksincovid.gov.my
Penang residents - like many Malaysians around the country - are longing to get their jabs as soon as possible and move on with their lives.
What they do not need are uncoordinated efforts when it comes to communications by so-called frontliner parties adding to their distress at this time.
A public relations practitioner had nailed it last week when she referred to Covid-19 as a "disease of consideration."
If only we think of others over ourselves there willl less confusion, better clarity and we would be in a far better situation than we are right now.
And who knows, we may even end up with extra toilet rolls and instant noodles for everyone!