102,000 cops listed as early virus vaccine recipients

KUALA LUMPUR – The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has listed 102,000 of its personnel as recipients of the Covid-19 vaccine under the first phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, which kicks off on Wednesday.

Bukit Aman Management Department director Datuk Ramli Din said, however, PDRM was yet to receive confirmation from the Health Ministry (MoH) on the actual number of police personnel that will be initial recipients of the vaccine.

“It is not focused on one department or division only, because in principle, all of them are eligible to receive it,” he told Bernama yesterday.

Ramli said MoH had set for the police to start receiving the vaccine shots on February 26, and PDRM had proposed 147 vaccination centres (PPVs) to the ministry to this end.

“PPVs that have been identified do not involve all police stations, but only contingent police headquarters or district police headquarters.

“Recommendations are to be made by way of outreach to facilitate officers and members present to receive the shots and facilitate monitoring of attendance, in line with MoH recommendations,” he said.

He added that MoH would carry out the inoculations, while the police would monitor security and ensure personnel who agreed to be vaccinated were present.

The first batch of Covid-19 vaccines arrived safely at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on board a special aircraft yesterday morning.

Bernama reported that the vaccines are being stored at three Vaccine Storage Centres, owned by logistics company DHL, namely in Subang, Selangor; Bayan Lepas, Penang; and Senai, Johor.

The first phase of the immunisation programme – involving frontline personnel – will reportedly run from February to April.

This will be followed by the second phase from April to August for high-risk groups aged 60 and above, and vulnerable groups with morbidity problems as well as people with disabilities.

Meanwhile, the third phase, from May this year until February next year, is for adults aged 18 and above. – Bernama, February 22, 2021