84% attendance as second phase of inoculation begins
KUALA LUMPUR: The first day of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme’s (PICK) second phase on Monday saw an 84 per cent attendance rate, according to Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said the remaining 16 per cent was not administered because the supposed recipients were not present.
However, he said, he was satisfied with the rate of attendance of the recipients as it reflected the public confidence in the vaccine given by the government.
Khairy said the vaccines allocated to those who did not show up for their appointment were also not wasted as these were given to volunteers present at the inoculation drive.
“Based on data from the first day of phase two of PICK, we had an 84 per cent attendance rate from people with appointments. Some asked to reschedule,” he said.
Khairy said those involved with the programme will be working on improving their strategic communications to increase the attendance rate.
Phase two of the immunisation programme is targeted for those exceptionally vulnerable to Covid-19, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities and those with chronic illnesses.
Phase three of the programme, which will inoculate the remaining adults aged 18 years and above, is set to begin in May.
However, low registration rates for the vaccination programme have become a concern as of late, with 90 per cent of Selangor’s senior citizens yet to register as of March 21.
In Penang, only 44.5 per cent of its citizens have registered for the programme as of Monday.
Meanwhile, Khairy said at least 95 percent of the total 571,000 frontline workers have received the first dose of the vaccine under Phase One of the National Covid19 Immunisation Programme.
He said he expected the vaccination for all the frontliners to be completed by end of April.
Citing Melaka, he said, all the frontliners have received their first dose of the vaccine, with some only waiting for the second dose to complete the vaccination.
He said this when observing Phase Two of the National Covid19 Immunisation Programme, together with State Health and Anti-Drug Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman and Melaka Health director Datuk Dr Ismail Ali, at the Dewan Tun Ali Vaccine Centre (PPV) in Bukit Katil here on Tuesday.