IPOH – Getting a Covid-19 jab is now a breeze, with inoculations at the Indera Mulia Stadium (SIM) here taking only 10 minutes at its drive-through vaccination centre (PPV).
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad said 100 people who turned up at the SIM PPV today were those getting their second Covid-19 vaccine dose.
He said the number of jabs administered at the drive-through PPV is expected to increase gradually.
“The idea to provide the drive-through service is to ease challenges faced by the elderly who have to queue up using wheelchairs, walking sticks and require more attention during the vaccination process.
“An increase in the number of drive-through counters is also expected to boost the number of vaccine recipients at the SIM PPV to 2,500 a day.
“The move was also taken in preparation for the coming phase (under 60), which is expected to involve many more recipients,” he told reporters after launching the drive-through vaccination centre.
He said the efficiency of the team handling the drive-through vaccination will be tested in stages, and the service is limited to only those getting their second dose as it is a simpler process.
On the opening of a second drive-through PPV near the Sultan Azlan Shah roundabout in Bandar Meru Raya here, as announced by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali, Saarani said the proposal is still being studied.
“We have to study it first because we do not want vehicles to queue up and cause congestion,” he said, adding the state government is also looking into opening up drive-through PPVs in other districts.
Meanwhile, Perak Health Department director Datuk Dr Ding Lay Ming, who was also at the press conference, said media personnel in Perak will start receiving their vaccine appointments today.
“Based on the list of 123 media personnel received by the management today, the notifications will be sent out in stages,” Dr Ding said. – Bernama, June 10, 2021