GEORGE TOWN – Penang is looking to extend the use of vaccination centres (PPVs) set up under the state’s Covid-19 Public-Private Partnership Industry Immunisation Program (Pikas) to facilitate workers from more factories, especially those under small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In announcing this, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the PPVs meant for industrial frontliners will also be made to serve the general community after the workers have been vaccinated.
“We will work with the International Trade and Industry Ministry so that some PPVs under Pikas can connect their (vaccination) services to the community after Pikas completes its goal to provide two complete doses of the vaccine to industrial workers.”
He said this during a visit to the Pikas PPV at Jabil Circuit Sdn Bhd in the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone today.
He said Jabil Circuit has voiced interest in offering its location to enable vaccination for workers from other factories classified as SMEs after the programme for its own workers is over.
“After looking at the achievements of the state during this period, where we managed to administer 15,000 first doses every day, 40% of the population will be able to get their second dose before the end of August,” Chow said.
“Penang is ready to support this effort with public PPVs and Pikas PPVs in the hope of achieving this goal,” he said.
Also present during the visit was state Trade, Industry and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain.
Separately, Halim told the press that the state is looking into introducing more aid packages for companies during this difficult period for businessmen and entrepreneurs.
“We have rolled out economic aid under Peka (Penang Aid Package) 1.0, 2.0, 2.1 and 3.0. We are looking at a possible Peka 4.0,” he said.
“We want to put in the effort to work together during this pandemic so once the recovery period is over, we can see economic success.” – The Vibes, July 20, 2021
