PETALING JAYA – A total of 13,500 persons with disabilities (PwDs) in the Klang Valley will receive the Covid-19 vaccine at the country’s first drive-through facility from tomorrow.
National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the vaccination centre at Menara Sime Darby Plantation, Ara Damansara, aims to administer 200 doses per day.
“This is the first drive-through vaccination centre for the disabled in the country and even the world. I am confident that this pilot project will be successful and we will increase the number of recipients and the rate for the daily doses in the future,” he said after inspecting preparations at the vaccination centre here today.
Khairy said the drive-through facility could serve as a reference before the government issues guidelines for other states to set up their own drive-through vaccination centre specifically for PwDs.
He said the move is the brainchild of OKU Sentral president Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi in collaboration with Ara Damansara Medical Centre, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd and government agencies.
Meanwhile, Ras Adiba said OKU Sentral has received nearly 16,000 applications from the disabled but had to shortlist 13,500 recipients, adding the drive-through vaccination facility was set up for the comfort of PwDs of all categories, as well as to expedite the vaccination process for the group in dire need of the Covid-19 vaccine.
She said she hopes the government will provide more vaccine doses and set up more of such facilities for PwDs nationwide.
The drive-through vaccination centre, which will operate from 9am to 5pm, allows disabled people, accompanied by a caregiver, to get their vaccines in the comfort of their vehicles. – Bernama, June 15, 2021
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