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A Malaysian medical student at an undetermined university has caused a bit of a stir after she launched a police report against her school for being barred from her exams.
The reason for being barred? Her refusal to get vaccinated.
During a live video streamed to Facebook on June 14, 2021, 22-year-old Nik Farah Ellisha was shown being accompanied by her family and some supporters as she made an official police report against her university at the Brickfields Police Headquarters.
Note: Although several mentions of University Malaya (UM) were mentioned in the video, most news reports have yet to ascertain the actual identity of the institution in question.
No exam entry.
As the story goes, the medical student had initially refused to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, which is deemed necessary by her institution for students wanting to receive accreditation as medical professionals.
“However, after being forced by the university, I finally agree to get the vaccine of my chosen brand and I informed the university about my decision in April,” she was reported as saying.
But despite her eventual agreement to receive a vaccine of her own choosing, Nik Farah lamented that she was unable to secure a vaccination appointment timely enough for her to sit through her exams that took place from June 8 to June 9.
Nik Farah (far left) with her family and members of the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) at the Brickfields Police Headquarters after making the police report. IMAGE: Wacana
Failing to get vaccinated before entering the exam premises, Nik Farah said that she was refused entry and was forced to leave the hall. A further appeal by her to take the exam separately was also dismissed.
"It's really heartbreaking. It's my right to say no to the vaccine," she added. "Why would you stop me from taking the exam just because I said no to the vaccine?"
"I studied so hard, but the university has prevented me from taking an exam that I had the right to take."
Along with her family, Nadzim Johan – the chief activist of the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM), as well as politician Lokman Adam Noor were seen at the police headquarters providing their support to Nik Farah.
"We were promised by officials that nobody would be forced to receive the vaccine, so why is she being forced to accept something questionable into her own system," Nadzim said. "There's no denying the many untoward incidents that have occurred as a result of people getting vaccinated."
He said that the decision by the university was a senseless one, and urged officials to perform a thorough investigation into the incident.
"She's a medical student and she understands the pros and cons of taking the vaccine," he added. "When she rejected the vaccine, she understood the risks."
Malaysian netizens fire back.
As the story gained traction online, however, many Malaysians online expressed their annoyance at the whole fiasco, and instead reasoned that Nik Farah herself was choosing to be difficult by not accepting a readily-available vaccine and being picky.
SEE ALSO: Stubborn and picky elderly Malaysians are causing delays at vaccination centers
"The university itself has offered clinical students the vaccine, while others still need to register and travel to vaccination centers," said Twitter user @pseudo_tazia. "The university has spoon fed us students, all we need to do is eat. What's the problem with that?"
This isnt about paksa, but you’re going go meet other people.
Masalahnya UM sendiri dah offer bagi clinical students dulu, walhal org lain kena register and pergi sendiri. Pihak uni dah bagi suap, kita student tinggal makan je. Whats the problem? — aizat? (@pseudo_tazia) June 14, 2021
One commenter said that the aspiring medical professional, by refusing a vaccine, would be putting many individuals at risk during practical examinations, while a few others questioned her ambitions of becoming a medical professional considering her reluctance to get inoculated.
"Everything works both ways – including demanding rights," said @alfiezik in a responding tweet. "If you are saying it's your right to not get vaccinated, then it's the university's right not to allow any unvaccinated people close to their staff and patients."
Everything works both ways including demanding rights. If you are saying it's your rights not to get vaccinated, then it is the Uni's right not to allow any unvaccinated people close to their staff and patients. Why have to complicate — Alfie (@alfiezik) June 15, 2021
"When she becomes a doctor, what is she going to tell her patients about immunization, since she doesn't believe in the medicine," said @LuthLandon. "Why does she want to become a doctor in the first place?
Vaccine fears – justified or not?
While this incident has clearly caused some backlash among observers, it's probably safe to say that Nik Farah's actions stem from a growing concern among some circles regarding the safety and efficacy of certain COVID-19 vaccines.
Amid reports of some vaccine recipients suffering ill effects following their jabs, it's unsurprising that anti-vaxxer sentiment has grown in online spaces, with Malaysian authorities even mulling more severe action against such groups.
However, it also must be noted that these statistics represent rare cases, and concrete links between vaccines and side effects such as myocarditis are still yet to be established by experts. More importantly, vaccines have proven to be effective in curbing the spread of the virus and reducing the symptoms during an infection, with studies showing that some mRNA vaccines have so far kept to the above-90-percent efficacy rate boasted.
Currently, the outcome of this saga is still yet to be determined, and it remains to be seen if Nik Farah and her university will come to a compromise acceptable by both parties.
What do you make of the situation? Was the university right to disallow Nik Farah from taking her exams?
Read more COVID-19 stories:
COVID-19 reinfection is a real thing. Here's what we know so far.
Survey: 78 percent of single Malaysians prefer to date vaccinated people
Malaysia-born Ed Yong wins Pulitzer Prize for top-tier COVID-19 journalism
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Cover image sourced from Lokman Adam on Facebook and RAND Corporation.
