KEPALA BATAS – Penang has emerged as the state with the highest number of people registered for the Covid-19 vaccine.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that 60% of the state’s population of 1.8 million have signed up.
To achieve herd immunity, 80% of its population needs to be inoculated.
As of June 3, 828,582 inhabitants in Penang, including expatriates, retirees and foreign workers have signed up through the MySejahtera application, indicating their willingness to be vaccinated.
On the same date, 103,627 individuals received their first dose of vaccine while another 73,607 completed both doses including Chow and all state representatives.
Speaking after visiting two public vaccination centres at SP Arena in Seberang Jaya and Dewan Millenium in Kepala Batas, Chow said that the surge in the number of vaccine applicants called for further mobilisation of logistics including venues for the national immunisation process to take place.
Chow said the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme needs to be expedited and completed by October this year given the threat of new Covid-19 variants.
“I was informed of this by the (coordinating) minister (Khairy Jamaluddin).”
Two vaccination centres will need to be established in each district, said Chow as he called for the roping in of private clinics and hospitals to distribute the vaccine.
Chow said Penang was also collaborating with the federal government to bring in vaccines through the private sector to inoculate 300,000 people, categorised as economic frontliners, such as factory workers and those providing essential services.
“Such a move means that there is a separate immunisation programme for the industrial sector, and it can run concurrently with the main one.
“With much access given to obtain the vaccines, we hope to protect many people as soon as possible.”
Penang has recorded a total of 30, 482 infections since last year – making it the state with the highest number of cases in the northern region. – The Vibes, June 5, 2021
