MIRI – There is an urgent need to immunise one million rural Sarawakians against Covid-19 now that mutated variants of the virus have been discovered at multiple Dayak longhouses in the state.
However, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said the task is a big one, with an even bigger logistic challenge.
Speaking to The Vibes, Ngau said he and other state leaders are trying to hammer the importance of getting the Covid-19 vaccine into every rural resident.
“The rural population must realise that, as and when the vaccine is made available to them, they must go and get the jab.
“Health department teams are doing their best to bring in the vaccine safely to remote areas, and, in doing so, face a lot of logistical challenges.
“However, there is a sense of hesitation and fear among many rural folk concerning the vaccination. If this continues, they are all in big, big trouble because the coronavirus is mutating.”
Ngau, who is from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, alleged that members of the opposition are telling rural folk to not register for the Covid-19 vaccine.
“They are telling them to shun the immunisation programme.”
He urged native folk to view, with great concern, the latest trend where the virus has circulated far and wide into many longhouses, adding that vaccination is the only way to stop the spread.
There are at least two new variants of the coronavirus circulating in Sarawak, including at longhouses in rural districts, according to research findings by the Institute of Health and Community Medicine in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
Unimas had in its latest report confirmed the “B1-like” and “B1.470” strains.
Other “B” variants found elsewhere – like in Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and New York in the United States – have seen a much higher infectivity rate than the original Covid-19 strain, and may possibly reduce the effectiveness of current vaccines, said the report.
“In Sarawak, the B1-like variant is found in Sibu and at longhouses linked to the Pasai cluster. The B1.470 variant is found in Kuching and Sri Aman.
“We have laboratory-confirmed evidence of samples from Covid-19-positive individuals indicating the presence of these B variants. They were found at longhouses and in other locations linked to the Pasai cluster.”
However, it added, there has yet to be evidence that the new variants will render current Covid-19 vaccines less effective.
Unimas has submitted the institute’s latest findings to the state Disaster Management Committee.
The report was prepared by its director, Prof Dr David Perera.
State Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian had on Saturday warned that the mutated strains in Sarawak may cause a rise in cases and subsequent spike in fatalities, with three million residents told to exercise extreme caution.
“A more severe and lethal variant is appearing,” he said, adding that Unimas has disclosed details of the latest developments.
“The only way to prevent the variants from getting worse before everyone is vaccinated is to stop the spread and transmission.”
He said unnecessary travel must be avoided, and frequent hand-washing, sanitising and wearing of face masks must be done without fail.
As of today, Sarawak has recorded 90 Covid-19 deaths and more than 12,000 infections. – The Vibes, March 15, 2021
