GEORGE TOWN – For Bayan Baru residents, getting both Covid-19 vaccine doses could see them becoming RM1,000 richer.
MP Sim Tze Tzin has launched a lucky draw for the cash prize, with this month’s winner being 86-year-old Saw Hong Chee.
The campaign is aimed at expediting inoculations so as to achieve herd immunity in the constituency.
“I will conduct the draw each month to encourage people to get vaccinated, to curb the spread of the virus,” said Sim after visiting the vaccination centre (PPV) at Sg Nibong’s Pesta site.
“Our service centre will also help constituents register, and we will remind them days before the appointment date.”
Present at the PPV was Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan.
Sim said there are two ways to speed up the immunisation drive: dangling a carrot or penalising those who refuse to be inoculated, as proposed by National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
“I would suggest the carrot approach to encourage people to register for vaccination.
“I urge the corporate sector and Penang government to offer cash and incentives in kind to encourage people to register.”
Citing examples, he said developers in Hong Kong are offering condominium units, while cash prizes are given in the United States.
“The corporate sector can follow suit by offering attractive prizes. Employers can offer their staff incentives to encourage vaccination.
“This is one of the ways to achieve herd immunity. Otherwise, we will fail, as we have reached a stagnant stage in the registration process.”
Sim said the Pesta site PPV, which began operations several days ago, sought his help to control crowd flow and congestion.
Volunteers have been stationed at the centre, which has the capacity to vaccinate between 800 and 1,000 people, to help oversee operations, he said. – The Vibes, June 12, 2021
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