Frontliners, senior citizens to get Covid vaccine first – Masidi
KOTA KINABALU: Frontliners and senior citizens should be the earliest groups to receive the first phase of Covid-19 vaccinations in Sabah, said Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
However, if the Ministry of Health (MOH) considered state leaders as frontliners, they will also be among the first to receive the vaccine, he told an online press conference yesterday.
Masidi was responding to a question from the media on the current development of Covid-19 vaccine that will be given to Malaysians soon, after the phase 3 of the clinical trial that is currently happening, is completed.
The estimated number of frontliners who will receive the Covid-19 vaccination when the supply becomes available in Sabah, is 39,100 people.
Masidi also said that the implementation of Covid-19 screening for SPM and STPM students is only applicable to students living in school dormitories.
Following the recommendation of screening on all students before starting school, currently the inspection capacity of the Sabah State Health Department cannot cover the total number of students.
“A better approach is needed to ensure that students carry minimal risk of infection when starting school sessions later.
“At the same time, parents and guardians are advised to constantly monitor the symptoms of their children, and seek immediate examination and treatment at a health clinic in case of symptoms,” he said.
As the teaching and learning process of most students are currently carried out through online, Masidi expressed his appreciations to members of the public and corporate bodies for initiating aid to underprivileged families in Sabah.