Several states begin receiving Covid-19 vaccine
KUALA LUMPUR: Several states in Peninsular Malaysia have started receiving the supply of Covid-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, produced by Pfizer-BioNTech yesterday, marking the beginning of the first phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).
The country’s largest vaccination programme is provided free of charge to ensure about 80 per cent of country’s population, both locals and foreigners, are protected from Covid-19 virus which has infected more than 290,000 people and claimed more than 1,000 lives since the first case was reported in the country on Jan 25 last year.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be the first individual in the country to receive the vaccine the first shot of two doses of PfizerBioNTech vaccine - at the Putrajaya Health Clinic, Presint 11 at about 3 pm yesterday.
In KEDAH, state health department director Dr Mohd Fikri Ujang said a total of 50,310 vaccine doses were allocated for the first phase of PICK in the state, to be received in stages starting yesterday.
He said for the first phase, a total of 25,155 vaccine recipients including medical and healthcare frontliners from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the private sector, as well as those from security sector including police, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Immigration Department, Prisons Department and Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia.
The vaccine will be placed in three vaccine storage centres (VSC) each in Kota Setar, Kuala Muda and Langkawi districts, with 57 vaccination centres (PPV) have been listed statewide, 46 of which are located at MOH healthcare facilities.
Meanwhile, in NEGERI SEMBILAN, the Comirnaty vaccine, arrived at VSC at Seremban 2 Health Clinic here at 11.23 am.
State police chief Datuk Mohamad Mat Yusop when contacted by Bernama said to ensure the safety and smooth arrival of vaccines in the state, 15 personnel have been assigned to accompany the vehicles involved to the VSC locations.
To date, a total of 37 PPV have been identified throughout Negeri Sembilan.
In TERENGGANU, about 15,000 doses of vaccine for the first phase will be received in the state with the vaccination process to commence on Friday.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said he would be the first individual in the state to receive the vaccine.
He said the first phase of PICK in Terengganu would also involve all state assemblymen including appointed assemblymen, as they are also considered as high risk because they usually work closely with the grassroots.
Meanwhile in MELAKA, a total of 11,000 doses of vaccine will be received within two days with 8,190 of them safely arrived in the state at 11.55 am yesterday.
State Health and Anti-Drug Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said the remaining vaccine will be received on Friday to be stored at the Melaka Hospital before being distributed to 24 PPVs including three hospitals and 21 health clinics statewide.
Vaccination exercise in Melaka is expected to start on March 2 involving state assemblymen and about 11,000 frontliners.
In KELANTAN, state police chief, Datuk Shafien Mamat said a team was deployed to bring the Covid-19 vaccine yesterday to be administered to 3,922 security personnel in the state.
The first phase of vaccination exercise involving frontliners from the Kelantan Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will see a total of 1,430 officers and policemen on field duty to receive the vaccine.
In PERAK, Comirnaty vaccine from VSC in Bayan Lepas, Penang, arrived at Taiping Hospital; Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Ipoh; Lumut Armed Forces Hospital and Teluk Intan Hospital, yesterday.
Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the first phase of vaccine supply would be for 33,000 frontliners including 10,924 police officers and personnel. A total of 3,000 police officers and personnel will receive the vaccine beginning March 1.
Meanwhile in PAHANG, a total of 23,400 doses out of a total of 64,350 vaccine doses for 32,175 frontliners arrived in the state, yesterday.
Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said that the first delivery of the vaccine was distributed to five VSCs, namely, Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) of 9,360 doses, Kuala Lipis Hospital (4,680 doses), Temerloh Hospital (4,680 doses), Rompin Hospital (3,510 doses) and Bentong Hospital (1,170 doses).
“23,400 doses of vaccine received yesterday will be administered to 11,700 frontliners and in total we have six deliveries for this first phase which will all be carried out in stages,” he said, adding that the vaccination process in Pahang will commence on Friday.
In NEGERI SEMBILAN, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said that the state government would establish a Covid-19 operations room in every district to ensure a smooth vaccination exercise at 37 PPVs statewide.