Penang CM leads state vaccination drive
GEORGE TOWN: The Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP), which began last week, proceeded smoothly yesterday with the Penang chief minister and 11 others receiving the Covid19 vaccine.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state officials received their jabs at the Penang Hospital Vaccine Delivery Centre (PPV).
Appearing from the PPV after a 15-minute rest, Chow gave the thumbs up.
“We hope this will give confidence to the people to go for the vaccination,” he said at the launch of the state-level NIP yesterday.
Chow said some 31,000 frontliners in the state would be vaccinated in the first phase.
“We have received the first batch of vaccine doses. We are expected to receive another 62,000 doses for the first phase.
“I urge the people of Penang to register for the vaccination through the MySejahtera app.
“With the vaccine, we can move to the new recovery phase,” he added, reminding the people that despite the NIP, the standard operating procedures must be adhered to.
Those who received the jab would need to return in 21 days to receive their second dose.
State Health Department director Datuk Dr Asmayani Khalib, who was among those vaccinated, said 318 medical staff, including 54 vaccinators, had received their jabs last week.
Penang is targeting to vaccinate 1.3 million or 70 per cent of its population to achieve herd immunity. The state Health Department said there were 15 PPVs in the state, where three halls were set up in each of the state’s five districts.
In Kota Baru, 150 people comprising state leaders and frontliners are expected to be inoculated tomorrow.
State Health Department director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin said this would include state health officers and non-health frontliners, such as the police, army and Rela members.
It is learnt that Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob and other state leaders, including state Government, Health and Housing Committee chairman Dr Izani Husin, would receive their vaccination.
Kelantan received the first batch of 18,720 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines last week.
They are being kept at four storage centres in Pasir Mas, Kuala Krai, Gua Musang and Kota Baru.
In Putatan, Sabah Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Shahelmey Yahya said the ministry was ready to help targeted groups (senior citizens, disabled people and orphans) register for the state NIP.
“Through our ministry, we can include them in the database so they can join the programme.
“We will contact the state Health Department and see how we can help to register them,” he said, urging people to get inoculated for the benefit of all.
The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry had announced that senior citizens and the disabled would be given priority under the second phase as both categories were deemed as high risk.