GEORGE TOWN – The Health Ministry has been urged to accept all available resources for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to achieve herd immunity in the fight against the pandemic.
Penang Malaysian Trades Union Congress secretary R. Veeriah questioned why the state government has reportedly been facing difficulty in being allowed access to China vaccines, which it said have been arranged for the people in the state.
There is a pressing need to achieve herd immunity, he added, and this can be done only if the majority of the people are vaccinated.
He urged the ministry and Perikatan Nasional administration to not deny Penangites an opportunity to get the jabs.
“The two million available doses of the Sinovac vaccine will suffice to inoculate the entire 1.8 million people of Penang.
“Given the fact that Penang’s population density is among the highest in the country, it is vital that a vaccination roll-out programme prioritises the state in the pursuit to achieve herd immunity.
“While we recognise that the federal government has constraints in rolling out the programme, what we cannot comprehend is why it has found it fit to block the two million doses of free vaccines for the people of Penang.”
Yesterday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Penang had in February received a donation of two million Covid-19 vaccine doses from a private company as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.
However, the state’s application to accept the doses – made via an official letter to the MoH secretary-general – was rejected on March 12.
Chow said the rejection was made on the grounds that the government has already designed and implemented a nationwide Covid-19 immunisation programme.
Veeriah said the saying “never look a gift horse in the mouth” is appropriate in this scenario.
“Faced with the unprecedented challenges brought forth by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is our view that there is no rhyme or reason for the federal government to deny the people of Penang the opportunity to get the vaccination made available by a generous donor.
“It is our view that the safety and well-being of the people ought to be of utmost consideration, regardless of all political inclinations.” – The Vibes, May 19, 2021
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