KUALA LUMPUR – In a bid to speed up the vaccination rate in Klang, which has the second lowest rate in Selangor after Gombak, MP Charles Santiago, has pushed for the setting up of more vaccination centres (PPVs) in the district.
By Monday, it is expected that 19,800 Klang folk will be vaccinated in a day, compared with the meagre 3,000 a day about two months ago.
Spearheading the idea for more PPVs, Santiago’s parliamentary office is working with the Hokkien Association Klang and National Cancer Society Malaysia to open a new centre, with a daily capacity of 2,000 shots a day, this Monday.
The association will be sponsoring its facility – the Hokkien Association Hall – for free to serve as the PPV, with the drive to continue until the completion of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
Two other PPVs – at the Soka Gakkai hall (3,000 doses a day) and Dewan MBSA Kemuning Utama (2,000 doses) – will also open on Monday, he added.
Three other existing centres will have their capacities significantly increased, while two will continue at the current rate.
Private hospitals and clinics will also join the vaccination drive and provide up to 1,500 doses daily.
“At this rate, it will take 63 days for Klang to reach herd immunity (80% fully vaccinated), and 83 days for the whole population to be vaccinated,” Santiago said at a press conference that was broadcast live on Facebook today.
He said there are 942,000 individuals above the age of 18 in Klang who are qualified to be vaccinated, but only 87,803 have received both doses and 208,055, the first dose.
“This is terribly low. When I first saw the figures (vaccination rate) about two months ago, I started making calls and putting pressure on the relevant quarters to increase the rate.
“But, even with the 19,800 daily doses, it is still not enough. I will talk to the minister (Khairy Jamaluddin) to see if it is possible to open more PPVs, especially in places like Telok Gong and Pulau Indah.”
He said the Hokkien Association Hall PPV is part of the national vaccination drive, and recipients will have to receive their appointment via MySejahtera.
National Cancer Society Malaysia president Datuk Dr Saunthari Somasundaram said the group is taking part in the programme to expedite the vaccination rate and allow public healthcare enough room to focus on other health issues.
“Many have asked us why we are involved in the drive.
“Because of Covid-19, persons with other diseases are unable to be treated when they should be. Every bed taken by a Covid-19-positive person, is a bed taken away from patients of other diseases.”
In Malaysia, nearly 80 people are diagnosed with cancer a day, most of whom are unable to get proper treatment due to the overwhelmed health system, she added.
“That is why we feel that we should be supporting government initiatives and others in making that difference – getting as many people vaccinated as possible.”
She said the group has already started assisting in the vaccination drive about three weeks ago, by mobilising staff in providing home inoculations. – The Vibes, July 23, 2021
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