MIRI – The Sarawak government had accepted Putrajaya’s offer of AstraZeneca (AZ) Covid-19 jabs for people across the state.
The vaccine will be offered to Sarawakians on a first-come, first-served basis, said state Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas today.
“The Sarawak Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Group has been reviewing and following the current issues and developments on the usage of Covid-19 vaccines, the AZ vaccine in particular.
“The group recommends the use of AZ for eligible Sarawak population on a voluntary basis,” he said in a press statement.
Uggah said the AZ distribution will complement the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, and those willing to receive the jabs can do so on a first-come, first-served basis.
The committee will set up special centres for vaccination and announce details soon, he said, adding that the inoculation will be conducted based on appointments.
Uggah said AZ will be an option for Sarawakians.
He said Sarawak initially rejected the offer by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin due to concerns over certain safety aspects of the vaccine.
However, recent surveys indicate that there are Sarawakians willing to take AZ shots, thus the state has allowed it for voluntary recipients, he said.
Eyeing up to 80,000 jabs a day
State Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said AZ will serve as an option even as the Sarawak government buys its own supply of other types of vaccines in its Covid-19 immunisation campaign.
“We aim to scale up our effort and vaccinate up to 80,000 people a day next month,” he said in his social media discussions.
Local citizens and opposition politicians have been urging state government leaders to accept AZ after it was offered by Putrajaya.
They have said it was not wise for state ministers to reject the vaccines outright.
There are many Sarawakians who would readily go for AZ injections since the spread of Covid-19 in Sarawak has reached an extremely serious stage, they had said.
“The situation is already very serious throughout Sarawak,” Selangau MP Baru Bian had said. “There are no more districts considered as zones safe from Covid-19.
“The federal government has twice offered AZ to Sarawak, so why not accept the vaccine and let people in Sarawak take the jabs if they choose to?
“Sarawakians are capable of weighing the pros and cons and making their choices.
“If they want the AZ vaccine when its freely and readily available and they feel that the benefits far outweigh the risks, they should be allowed to choose it,” he said.
Bian, who is presidential councillor of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), said Sarawak leaders made a mistake in rejecting the offer earlier.
Netizens hankering for vaccine choice
Many netizens have also expressed their views on social media, questioning state leaders’ initial rejection.
“The state government should not have rejected AZ outright,” netizen David Bakit had said.
“It may have turned out to be a bad decision to reject the AZ offered for free by the federal side.
“Every type of vaccine has its risks, but AZ will be useful for those who want it.”
Another local named Sabani Yunus also asked why the state leaders did not just accept the AZ vaccine stock since it was offered for free by Khairy, who is the minister in charge of the vaccine arrangements.
“…should have just taken them since Khairy gave it to us. Stock it in Sarawak and if there is not enough of the Pfrizer and Sinovac, offer Sarawakians the option of whether they want to get AZ or not,” said Sabani.
State leaders had last month rejected the offer of free AZ stock made by Khairy to Uggah when the two met in Putrajaya.
A PSB branch chief had said many Sarawakians will consider taking AZ if offered the option.
Bruce Chai, PSB chief for Pujut branch in Miri, said that if AZ is readily available, Sarawak authorities should have accepted a batch of doses and allowed Sarawakians the choice of taking AZ.
“I would personally sign up for the AZ vaccine.
“The Sarawak government should not reject the offer from the federal government if it wants to give the AZ vaccine supply to Sarawak,” said Chai, who is a former member of the Miri City Council.
He said AZ is of advantage to Sarawak in the event the state government cannot secure enough of the other types of Covid-19 vaccines.
“The benefits of the AZ vaccine outweigh its risk. For those healthy enough and willing to accept the AZ vaccine, there should be freedom of choice,” he said.
Chai is touted as the proposed PSB candidate for the Pujut constituency in the upcoming 12th state election. PSB is an independent opposition bloc in Sarawak. – The Vibes, May 18, 2021
