By Mustakim Ramli
DENGKIL, August 14 — A total of 60 per cent of the 14,500 adult Orang Asli in Selangor have received their Covid-19 vaccine shots.
State executive councillor for Orang Asli affairs Hee Loy Sian said the high percentage was driven by the improving level of awareness and is confident the number will rise to 80 per cent by September.
“We admit that at first, we faced problems as the responses were not so encouraging, mainly because the Orang Asli were afraid of syringes and there is a lack of awareness among them on the importance of the vaccine.
“However, after some of them were infected with Covid-19, they became aware and more open to receiving the vaccine,” he said after handing over food basket aid at Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buah here today.
Previously, he targeted that Orang Asli in 74 villages in the state would receive their vaccine shots by this month.
Hee said they were vaccinated through the National Covid-19 Immunisation Program (PICK), Selangor Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) and Selangor Vaccination Programme (Selvax).
Earlier today, Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari informed that almost 100 per cent of the adult population in Selangor who registered had received the first dose of injection.
Based on the development, Amirudin expects Covid-19 cases in the state to decrease by September.
