GEORGE TOWN – Penang executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo has offered to be the next in line after Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the drive for which will start here on Sunday.
Penang and Kedah will begin the inoculation exercise on Sunday for frontliners in the country’s bid to vaccinate at least 80% of its population to create the necessary herd immunity against the coronavirus.
Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor is also scheduled to receive the vaccine on Sunday at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star.
Jagdeep told a press conference today that he is willing to receive the jab after Chow, to quash speculations that the vaccines are unnecessary or may cause major side effects.
“Let me be clear. We are talking about saving lives and I am ready to prove that the vaccine is safe, and it should be encouraged. We need to fight this pandemic together,” he said.
Jagdeep added that Penang’s move to involve 200 private general practitioner clinics and dentists here to administer the vaccines in the second phase has received approval from the Health Ministry.
“State exco members are considered frontliners too, as we are on the ground. The others involved in the first phase will be medical personnel and police and other security personnel.”
He said that Penang is now compiling data on traders and vendors who were left out of the state’s aid programme to alleviate the burden of the business community. – The Vibes, February 25, 2021
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