KUALA LUMPUR – Newly revealed Operation Surge Capacity will begin in force from July 26 onwards, its details to be worked out during a stakeholder meeting next week, said Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming, who is tasked with managing Selangor’s Covid-19 inoculation drive.
He conceded that daily inoculation capacity in the Klang Valley needs to be ramped up to meet the target of 1.3 million doses between July 26 and August 1.
500,000 doses will be administered to industry workers, with 250,000 for the Selvax Industry programme and 250,000 for the International Trade and Industry Ministry’s (Miti) Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (Pikas).
“The daily capacity in the Klang Valley will have to be increased from the current 180,000 daily doses (July 14-18) to 210,000 daily doses (July 19-25), and to at least 272,000 daily doses from July 26 and August 1.
“This would require an increase in the daily doses administered by the current vaccination centres under PICK (National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme), in the existing five sites already operating under Selvax and in the current and soon-to-be-opened Pikas sites in Selangor and KL,” he said in a statement.
Ong added that Miti and Selcare (which runs Selvax) will have to coordinate to minimise overlap between companies that want to get their workers vaccinated during Operation Surge Capacity.
“There also needs to be clear communication by Miti and Selcare for companies that have signed up for both programmes (Selvax and Pikas) and those that have yet to sign up for any programme.
“For example, those willing and able to pay for the Selvax programme should remain committed to this programme, while those that may not be able to afford Selvax can wait and/or apply for the Miti Pikas program.
“More Pikas and Selvax Industry vaccination sites may have to be opened to cater to the increase in the number of vaccinations.
“Selcare will also have to work with MySejahtera to push those vaccinated under Selvax to update their MySejahtera status as soon as possible, so that these individuals won’t be allocated slots by MySejahtera for vaccination appointments.
“MySejahtera’s ability to update its database to reflect Selvax vaccinations is especially important in impacting Operation Surge Capacity’s ability to reach its objective of full vaccination in the Klang Valley by August 1.”
Ong urged all parties to set politics aside to ensure the success of Operation Surge Capacity to bring down the number of Covid-19 daily cases and more importantly, that of those with serious symptoms that need to be hospitalised and put in intensive care units.
Vaccination coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday said that Operation Surge Capacity aims to ensure all adults in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor receive their first dose of the vaccine come August 1.
“Operation Surge Capacity will focus on Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. We will ensure that every adult resident in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur will receive their first dose at the very least by August 1.
“To achieve this, we have to increase our capacity and vaccine supply to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor to manage the pandemic in these two states.”
Currently, there are 6.1 million adults living in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Up till July 15, 3.5 million adults have received their first dose.
Khairy expects another 1.3 million to receive their first dose between July 26 and August 1.
Of the 1.3 million individuals, 250,000 will be managed under Selangor’s vaccination programme, Selvax, which will focus on industrial workers. – The Vibes, July 17, 2021
