By Alang Bendahara
SHAH ALAM, Feb 25 — Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine today, kick-starting the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme at the state level.
During the event, Amirudin were among 42 others who had received the vaccination today, including state executive councillors and members of the Selangor Security Special Committee, administered by 12 vaccinators.
In a statement today, Amirudin said a total of 66,690 frontliners will receive the Covid-19 vaccine in the first phase of the vaccination programme in Selangor.
“Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God) the launching of the state-level National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme went well.
“Thank you to the Health Ministry, the Selangor State Health Department and health workers, especially the staff at Petaling District Health Office,” the statement read.
Amirudin was vaccinated at the Shah Alam Hospital Auditorium, here, at 1.40pm.
Next in line to have received their first dose of the vaccine include Deputy Minister of Health I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali, State Public Health, Unity, Women Empowerment and Family Committee chairman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, State Secretary Datuk Nor Azmie Diron, State Legal Adviser Dato’ Salim Soib @ Hamid and Selangor State Health Department director Datuk Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman, followed by the state executive councillors.
The programme, which was launched by Dr Noor Azmi during the handover ceremony of the Covid-19 vaccines to Selangor, was broadcasted live by Media Selangor on its social media platform and website.
Speaking to reporters after receiving the vaccine, Amirudin added that the first batch of recipients of the vaccine is scheduled to be vaccinated with the second dose on March 18.
Meanwhile, Dr Siti Mariah in her welcoming speech said 33 per cent of Malaysia’s Covid-19 cases were detected in Selangor.
“With the vaccine that arrived in the country on February 21 and the handover of the vaccine to the people of Selangor today, it will help to control the spread of Covid-19 pandemic in the state.
“The state government welcomes the Vaccine Handover Plan for Selangor and will continue to work with the Selangor State Health Department to ensure the people’s health remains safe from the spread of the outbreak,” she said.
Dr Siti Mariah added that a total of 42 people were vaccinated, consisting of state leaders and frontline workers. The second jab is scheduled to be on the 21st day after receiving the first dosage.
The national Covid-19 vaccination programme had kicked-off yesterday when Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had received the first dose of the vaccine at the Putrajaya Health Office in Presint 11, Putrajaya.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was next in line to be vaccinated during the event that was televised live nationwide.