KUCHING – The first day of Covid-19 vaccination in Sg Asap, Belaga, would have ended on an uneventful note had it not been for some politicians and VVIPs badgering for “priority spots” in the inoculation exercise.
Vaccine coordinator Dr Nur Izzati Zaidin had her hands full with requests for these people and their cronies to be given doses reserved for frontliners.
“They asked us to include them, their wives, children and personal assistants in Phase 1 of the vaccination programme,” she told The Vibes.
“But I had to reject their requests outright, as Phase 1 is reserved for medical and non-medical frontliners only.
“We just started our programme yesterday, and we still have a long way to go to vaccinate medical and non-medical frontliners. So, there is no ‘priority spot’ for anyone, even if they are YBs or VVIPs.
“I have to follow the pre-planned schedule based on the risk assessment of the profiled groups, according to the pecking order.”
She said she was instructed by the district health office to work on a 1:1 ratio for medical and non-medical frontliners in the daily vaccination schedule.
“I am obligated to follow these guidelines and maintain priority by keeping to the targeted groups specifically profiled for each phase in the overall vaccination plan.”
Asked about the politicians’ reaction to being rejected, she said: “Well, they accepted my reason for not being able to accommodate their requests in good spirit.
“But, the fact that there are requests to be ‘urgently vaccinated’ shows that we are almost winning the war against ‘vaccine hesitancy’, since there are so many interested parties ready and willing to be vaccinated quickly.”
Dr Nur Izzati said the coronavirus vaccines need to be properly handled and stored, having been distributed to vaccination centres in measured doses to avoid spoilage.
“For Phase 1, we have two shipments for the first dose and two shipments for the second.
“We are now left with another three shipments for the Phase 1 programme.
“For now, I cannot tell how many vaccine days I have for Phase 1. It all depends on the dates that the vaccine can be secured from Bintulu Hospital and the number of vials I receive.”
Yesterday’s inoculation exercise saw minor glitches that required the interior of the Sg Asap multipurpose hall to be reorganised thrice.
“This was to achieve maximum public safety and a smoother workflow during the scheduled vaccination days,” said Dr Nur Izzati.
“My team had to organise the electricity supply to the hall themselves, and we also had to put up new tents outside as a thunderstorm on Friday had blown them off.”
Fifty-four frontliners were inoculated at the hall, and 60 at the Belaga clinic.
The only politician to receive a jab at the hall yesterday was Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai, who, along with the district office, worked closely with Dr Nur Izzati to promote Covid-19 vaccination and ease public jitters.
Kennedy, an Orang Ulu from the Kenyah ethnic group who is president of both Persatuan Kenyah Sarawak and Federation of Orang Ulu Association Malaysia, said he has told church congregations about the importance of getting vaccinated.
“It is the nature of tribal people to emulate their leaders.
“So, when it was suggested that I be vaccinated in the Phase 1 group, I agreed, so that I can be a testimony to the people that the vaccine is safe, and this will convince the people to step forward to receive the vaccine.” – The Vibes, March 8, 2021
