PORT KLANG – More than 51,500 frontliners in the transportation industry will receive their Covid-19 vaccine shots starting today, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong announced.
He said the Transport Ministry (MoT) has been given the nod by the National Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) yesterday to implement the vaccination programme for frontliners in the land, sea and air transport sectors, such sailors and workers at seaports, airports and rail services.
He said during the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) 3.0, the transportation sector is among the essential services that need to continue operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure the movement of goods and passengers is not badly affected.
“As such, the MoT, with the cooperation of Mosti (Science, Technology and Innovation) and MoH (Health Ministry) has launched the vaccination programme for the transportation industry involving the three services, namely sea, air and land,” he told a press conference after visiting a vaccination centre PPV for the sea transport sector here today.
Through the vaccination centre set up here, a total of 10,000 seafarers and port workers are expected to receive their vaccine shots.
With him was Mosti Minister cum Coordination Minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Khairy Jamaluddin.
Air transport sector roll-out from July 5
Wee said transportation companies involved in the programme will jointly bear the cost for the opening of the PPV while the vaccine supply will be provided free of charge by the government.
The minister said the first phase of the vaccination programme for the transport industry kicked off with jabs for 10,000 sailors and seaport workers at the private vaccination centre operated by the Port Klang Authority (PKA) at the Port Klang Sports Club multipurpose hall.
He said PKA will also oversee vaccinations for seaport workers, while the Maritime Trade Central Fund (KWPPL) under the Marine Department will oversee vaccinations for sailors.
He said the facility will benefit 18,596 seaport workers and 53 supervisors in the central region who are eligible to receive the vaccine in the first phase of the programme.
“There is a total of 59,155 seaport workers and supervisors in Malaysia. The vaccine eligibility criteria will be determined by the MoH and take into account various factors, including pregnancy or other medical conditions of the recipients,” he said.
According to Wee, the programme will continue for the frontliners in the air transportation sector from July 5 at the KL International Airport (KLIA) Main Terminal Building involving 22,243 airport staff, as well as airline and cargo workers.
For the land transport sector, Wee said several PPVs will be opened across the country to ensure all 19,259 rail workers and bus drivers are vaccinated soon.
He said the MoT and the CITF are also in the midst of coordinating vaccinations for taxi and e-hailing drivers, as well Foodpanda and Grab riders, totalling 355,064 nationwide.
The programme will be implemented at public PPVs with all costs borne by the government, he said.
Meanwhile, We said the vaccination for the sailors was launched today in conjunction with the Day of the Seafarer celebrated annually on June 25.
“MoT is committed to working closely with the CITF to ensure success of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme and to get all workers in the transportation industry vaccinated as soon as possible.”
Construction sector drive starts July 1
Meanwhile, Khairy said the Covid-19 vaccination drive for the construction sector will begin on July 1.
He said the shots for the sector will focus on ongoing construction sites and essential projects.
“We are focusing on all essential economical sectors that are currently open and operational,” he told the press conference.
Khairy said the roll-out will be expanded to the plantation sector, but added the matter is still under discussion.
“The CITF has started discussions with the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry as the plantations are also still operating (during MCO),” he said.
On a related matter, Khairy said as of yesterday, 15.1% of the population have received their first Covid-19 vaccine dose while 5.8% have completed both doses. – Bernama, June 25, 2021
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