Sunway takes lead in helping govt hit vaccination target
SUNWAY Group is the first private conglomerate in the country to take the lead in helping the government achieve its target to vaccinate the population by providing both its facilities and human resources for the cause.
To expedite the vaccine roll-out, the company has been providing the 150,000 sq ft Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre (SPCC) as a large-scale vaccination centre (PPV) rent-free, since March this year.
As the government works to ramp up the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP), Sunway Group has intensified its support, committing more than RM50 milllion through various measures to help the nation fight the pandemic.
SPCC is the first large-scale vaccination centre in the Petaling district.
Since July 5, the centre has been operating from 9am to 9pm to administer up to 5,200 doses daily.
To date, close to 100,000 have been vaccinated at SPCC PPV since it first opened its doors earlier this year.
At least 1.8 million people in the Petaling district are expected to walk in to SPCC to get vaccinated, with proper SOPs and physical distancing in place for the health and safety of all involved.
Besides providing the convention centre as a PPV rent-free for 11 months, Sunway Healthcare Group’s flagship hospital, Sunway Medical Centre was recently appointed as the Healthcare Organiser (HCO) to perform clinical management and public vaccinations at SPCC.
Fully-trained healthcare professionals including medical doctors and nurses from Sunway Healthcare Group of hospitals and health services have been mobilised and are working alongside the Selangor Covid-19 Immunisation
Task Force (CITF) to manage the SPCC vaccination centre.
SPCC was previously managed by the Petaling district health office, which then handed over the reins to Sunway Medical Centre in June.
NEW PPVS TO INCREASE VACCINATIONS
Sunway Medical Centre now manages a total of four PPVs, namely SPCC, SunMed Convention Centre, Sunway Specialist Centre Damansara (SSCD) and Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV).
All of these PPVs are being offered rent-free.
SSCD commenced its vaccination programme for the public on July 5, while SMCV has been recently approved as a PPV and will be starting vaccinations on July 19.
Additionally, Sunway is exploring options to quicken the vaccination process in Ipoh, Penang and Johor as well.
Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah shared that Sunway will continue to play a major role in supporting the government’s initiatives towards accelerating the nation’s recovery from the pandemic.
“It is my personal belief that no corporation can live apart from the community it serves. As such, we strongly believe in doing well by doing good. In line with these values, we have committed more than RM50 million since the lockdown was imposed. You have my pledge that we will continue to help the communities we serve and stand by them in their hour of need,” he said.
Sunway Healthcare Group managing director Lau Beng Long added that Sunway Medical Centre is greatly appreciative of the incredible contribution from PKD Petaling District and is proud to serve the nation in such a pivotal time to ensure the success of the national immunisation programme.
“By committing resources from private healthcare entities in vaccination centres, we believe that this will help the public health system to continue its battle in fighting Covid-19,” he said.
In line with the NIP, SPCC first carried out vaccinations for healthcare workers in government and private facilities and essential services, followed by the remaining healthcare workers, essential workers, enforcers as well as senior citizens and high-risk groups which will be done until August.
Vaccinations for the rest of the community will begin from August
until February next year.