MIRI – As many as 929,000 Sarawakians are listed as being at “high risk” of contracting Covid-19, with the state government prioritising them for vaccination.
State Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian revealed the figure in his update on the coronavirus situation in the state, shared on social media.
Those deemed high-risk include individuals with underlying health problems, the elderly, and longhouse residents.
“There are 929,000 Sarawakians considered high-risk groups.
“They will be vaccinated against Covid-19 starting end-March.
“Phase 1 of the vaccination drive starting on February 27 will cover 97,000 frontliners in Sarawak,” he said, with this group to include medical and health personnel, police and the army.
“Phase 2 will be for the high-risk groups. Phase 3 will be for 992,000 Sarawakians aged above 18 under the ‘general public’ category.”
The immunisation effort will go on till August, he said.
He said the state Disaster Management Committee and Health Department have stressed the need to prioritise longhouse residents, given the recorded infections among native communities.
“Our healthcare system in Sarawak is lacking in the longhouses and remote areas.
“This is why we need to speed up the Covid-19 vaccination programme in these longhouses.”
Dr Sim said the latest statistics showed that there are 2,019,413 Sarawakians above 18 years old.
All of them will receive the jab for free, he said.
On those younger than 18, he said: “There is no scientific evidence to say the vaccine is safe for those aged below 18, so they will not be given the vaccine.”
He said all foreign workers in Sarawak – both legal and illegal – will also receive the vaccination, in line with the decision by Putrajaya.
Sarawak has seen 62 virus deaths and some 6,300 infections since the pandemic began. – The Vibes, February 17, 2021
