70% Covid-19 immunisation in S’wak possible by August: state health director

KUCHING – If all systems are go, it is possible to vaccinate 70% of Sarawak’s population from Covid-19 by August. 

However, this can only be achieved if there are no glitches in the logistics of the supply chain when the vaccination programme rolls out.

State Health Director Dr Chin Zin Hing said that such a mammoth task is possible if every link in the chain goes according to plan.

“We have put some strategies on the ground to ensure the large-scale vaccination programme will be carried out without any hitch. We are ready for the roll-out,” Dr Chin told The Vibes recently.

Asked what could potentially go wrong, Dr Chin said: “The vaccines come in batches. There will be some delays if there are logistical hitches during their transportation, which may slow down the statewide vaccination programme.”

Dr Chin was asked to comment on state Local Government and Housing Minister Dr Sim Kui Hian’s recent statement that state authorities are working with the Health Ministry to get enough vaccines for the entire population of Sarawak.

“We want to speed up the vaccination process to August this year, instead of waiting for the country to complete its Covid-19 immunisation programme by February next year,” Dr Sim told Sarawak’s media earlier this month.

“We believe the Covid-19 situation in Sarawak can be controlled when more than 70% of the population are vaccinated,” said Dr Sim, a trained cardiologist and adviser to the state Disaster Management Committee.

Dr Chin said 97,000 frontliners have been registered for the first phase of the vaccination programme, expected to begin on February 27. 

“We have a list of the initial frontliners in the state who qualify to be vaccinated in this first phase.

“Following this batch, those above 60 years old and above and those with health comorbidities will be vaccinated in phases two and three. 

“We are appealing now to those in this category to register themselves for their vaccination,” he said.

He said last weekend that a total of 2.2 million Sarawakians and non-Sarawakians residing in the state are expected to participate in the statewide vaccination drive. 

The state government aims to complete the programme in three phases by August, five months ahead of the national target. 

According to Dr Sim, the state is targeting to vaccinate at least two million Sarawakians out of some 2.8 million, plus an additional 200,000 non-citizens in the state.

“With that, I think we can aim to vaccinate about 80% of the population and achieve herd immunity.” – The Vibes, February 24, 2021