PUTRAJAYA – MPs and assemblymen will be among the recipients of the Covid-19 vaccine under Phase 1 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin said the matter has been agreed upon by the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee as MPs and assemblymen work closely with the grassroots community.
“Since the nature of their job is such, we agree that MPs and assemblymen, regardless of their party, will be given the vaccine during Phase 1 so that they can discharge their duties more effectively and safely,” he said after launching the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme handbook today.
The vaccination drive will be implemented in phases beginning February 26, with the prime minister slated to receive the vaccine on that day along with frontliners.
On the National Union of Journalists and National Union of Teaching Services requests for media personnel and teachers to be included as Phase 1 recipients, Muhyiddin said the government will consider them, as well as those from other community groups.
“If we believe that they are at risk if not vaccinated, we will consider them as among the first recipients of the vaccination programme.”
Meanwhile, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the government, for Phase 1 of the drive, has allocated 300,000 doses for medical frontliners and 200,000 doses for non-medical ones, which include security personnel, welfare officers and politicians. – Bernama, February 16, 2021
