Media personnel among first 132 frontliners to be vaccinated
KUCHING: Three media personnel were among the first 132 frontliners to be vaccinated under the first phase of the Covid19 Immunisation Programme at Kota Samarahan Health Office near here yesterday.
They were Utusan Borneo journalist Saibi Gi, The Star photographer Zulazhar Sebli, and Awani Sarawak journalist Rudy Affendy Khalik.
Saibi said he felt blessed to be among the first selected to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
“As journalists who are always moving on the ground while discharging daily duties, we do need to be vaccinated at an early stage,” he said.
Saibi said he was not too worried about receiving the vaccine.
“It’s just that my heart was beating a little faster than usual while waiting for my turn for the dose.
“I displayed no sign of complications after the jab. There’s no pain or dizziness,” he said.
Zulazhar said he was willing to receive the vaccine under the first phase to set a good example for the community and media industry.
He said the nature of work for media personnel requiring them to be exposed to the public and various places had driven him to sign up as among the first frontliners to be vaccinated.
“I have responded to the government’s call to receive the vaccine for protection,” he said.
Zulazhar also extended his appreciation to the government for recognising journalists and photographers as frontliners.
“The government seems to understand and appreciate the role and responsibility of the media, especially during this time of Covid-19,” he said.
For Rudy, the vaccination process at the centre was carried out in an easy, friendly, and painless manner.
“This is our struggle to ensure that all of us, including future generations, are free from the deadly Covid-19 epidemic,” he
said.
Thirteen journalists had been selected through the Federation of Sarawak Journalists Association (FSJA) to be vaccinated under the first phase of the vaccination programme in Sarawak.
Also receiving the vaccine at Kota Samarahan Health Office were Kota Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang, Samarahan Resident Ibrahim Lumpu, and healthcare personnel.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, delivered from the state Pharmaceutical Logistics Branch in Bintawa here, arrived at Kota Samarahan Health Office around 9.45am.