KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — Several states in the country embarked on the second phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme today, which will continue until August this year.
Under the second phase, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac vaccines will be administered, with priority to be given to 9.4 million elderly citizens aged 60 and above, patients with chronic diseases and persons with disabilities (OKU).
In PENANG, State Health director Datuk Dr Asmayani Khalib said 2,024 elderly citizens are expected to be vaccinated today and five vaccination centres (PPV) have been set up at Masyarakat Penyayang Complex for the Timur Laut district; Balik Pulau Sports Complex (Barat Daya district); Millennium Hall in Kepala Batas (Seberang Perai Utara), Jawi Multipurpose Hall (Seberang Perai Selatan) and Seberang Perai Arena Convention Centre (Seberang Perai Tengah).
Ang Ah Hay@Teng Foo Ying, 91, when met by Bernama said, she felt relieved after receiving her first dose of the vaccine.
“I urge other elderly people to go to the nearest PPV to get their shots to protect themselves against Covid-19,” she said.
In TERENGGANU, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar launched the state-level second phase of the vaccination programme at Kuala Terengganu Science and Creativity Centre (PSKT).
Apart from the PSKT PPV to cater to recipients from the Kuala Terengganu district, two other PPVs are at Datuk Seri Amar Diraja Hall (Kemaman) and Sungai Tarom Multipurpose Hall (Setiu).
In addition, State Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Dr Alias Razak said residents in other districts could get their vaccine shots at existing health clinics as the number of PPVs would only be increased on a need basis.
He said as of April 14, 250,399 people or 29.7 per cent of the state’s population have registered via the MySejahtera application, to be included in the vaccination programme.
“Four districts have recorded over 30 per cent participation, namely Kemaman with 44,473 people or 33.6 per cent, followed by Kuala Terengganu (59,713 or 32.5 per cent), Marang (26,017 or 32 per cent) and Kuala Nerus (33,161 or 30.8 per cent),” he said.
In NEGERI SEMBILAN, State Health director Datin Dr Harlina Abdul Rashid said 456 senior citizens received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine today.
She said the vaccines were administered on 228 recipients at the Seremban City Council Hall PPV while the rest received their shots at the Jempol Land and District Office PPV.
Meanwhile, Jempol District Safety and Disaster Management Committee chairman Syahrul Nizam Saleh said so far 12,478 individuals in the district have registered for the vaccine under the second phase and the number is expected to increase after the launch of the programme today.
In KEDAH, 1,577 people comprising elderly citizens and OKUs will be getting their vaccine shots in the first four days starting today at Sultan Abdul Halim Indoor Stadium in Alor Setar.
Kota Setar district officer Datuk Mohd Asri Redha Abdul Rahman who is also Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) chairman said his team had visited the village areas to encourage and help more people to register for the vaccine with the cooperation of the Information Department.
“Detailed preparations have been made at the stadium to ensure the vaccination process runs smoothly from today,” he said, adding that so far, over 30 per cent of Kota Setar residents aged 18 and above have registered for the Covid-19 vaccine.
In MELAKA, some 250,000 people comprising individuals aged 60 and above, at-risk groups and the Orang Asli community are being targeted to receive the Covid-19 vaccine under the second phase and 70 per cent of the state’s population of 701,000, are expected to be vaccinated by December 2021.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said 29 PPVs would be set up in stages and three were opened today at Dewan Tun Ali to cater to recipients from Melaka Tengah district; Masjid Tanah Sports Complex Multipurpose Hall for recipients in Alor Gajah and Jasin Alamanda Hall for those in Jasin.
“Mobile PPVs will also be provided as we foresee that some of the elderly, disabled and Orang Asli people will have difficulties to get to the PPVs that have been set up,” he told reporters after witnessing the launch of the second phase at Dewan Tun Ali in Bukit Katil, today.
Meanwhile, in PAHANG, 360,000 people are expected to be included under the second phase of the programme.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said five PPVs have been set up at Wisma Belia, Kuantan; Dewan Tun Razak, Temerloh; Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Hj Ahmad Shah in Kuala Lipis and Kuala Rompin and Bentong Municipal Council Hall.
“The Pahang Health Department has distributed 8,087 doses of the vaccine to all five PPVs for appointments set from April 19 to 25,” he said when visiting Wisma Belia PPV in Kuantan today.
— Bernama
