Vaccination phase 2: new groups to be announced Monday

SHAH ALAM – Several new groups of recipients for the second phase of Covid-19 vaccination will be announced Monday, said Coordinating Minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy who is also Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, said several new groups categorised as economic frontliners and other groups will be added as vaccine recipients in the second phase upon agreement of the Vaccine Supplies Access Guarantee Special Committee.

He said the matter was allowed as registration for the second phase is not yet full, so the committee decided to give priority to other categories.

“But I wish to stress here that senior citizens and high-risk groups – (those) with chronic diseases and disabilities – are still being given priority in the second phase,” he said.  

He was speaking at a media conference after paying a courtesy call to Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari at the state secretariat building here today.

The second phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme will be carried out from April to August.

Khairy said the government will be adding more vaccination centres in phase two and three to expedite the process.

“It also depends on the delivery of vaccine from abroad, so when we receive more doses, we will be able to step up vaccination, which will require bigger vaccination centres,” he said.

In this regard, he said vaccine administration will be extended to certain industrial areas, especially in factories in Selangor, that have many workers.

“We will list the factories and cooperate with the companies concerned to implement vaccination at the factories or worker hostels so they do not need to (visit) any vaccination centre involving members of the public,” he said.

Khairy said Selangor has recorded the highest registration rate for the jab.

“In terms of ratio of registration to targeted population, the national rate is at 26.9% while Selangor reached almost 40%, showing a high level of awareness in the state,” he said.

He said cooperation with the state government will continue to encourage more registrations, including by making house visits and opening counters in public spaces.

Meanwhile, Amirudin said Selangor has so far carried out first-dose vaccine administration for more than 83% of recipients targeted under vaccination phase one.

“We have about 4,000 more first-dose recipients to go, and (this round of vaccination) may be completed in April,” he said. – Bernama, March 25, 2021