GEORGE TOWN – DAP has urged the Perikatan Nasional government to gazette all Health Ministry health clinics into vaccination centres (PPVs) as this will make vaccination readily available, accessible and affordable to all Malaysians.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the 382 PPVs in the country cannot effectively vaccinate 80% of the 32.75 million population, including non-citizens, nationwide.
If the government continues at this rate of administering less than 100,000 doses daily, it is unlikely that the country can achieve herd immunity by December 31, he added.
“Turning health clinics into PPVs will help widen the reach and access of vaccination into rural areas.
“Many of those living in remote or rural areas, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, face logistical difficulties in getting to PPVs that are located far from their homes.”
As for Penang, the Bagan MP said the federal government’s projected completion of the vaccination drive in the state by September is unrealistic.
He added that the vaccination rate in Penang is the fourth lowest in the country at 8.14%, only higher than Sabah, Selangor and Johor.
Lim said the only hope of meeting the government’s vaccination projection for the state will not only depend on the availability of the Covid-19 vaccine, but also on increasing the number of PPVs in Penang from the current 11.
“The lack of confidence and trust deficit in the PN government to ensure a swift and smooth delivery of vaccines is probably the reason why both Selangor and Johor are looking at purchasing their own vaccines.”
Last week, the Selangor government announced an allocation of more than RM200 million to procure the Covid-19 vaccine.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari reportedly said more than one million people in the state are expected to benefit from the move. – The Vibes, June 8, 2021
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