SHAH ALAM – Phase 4 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme will be implemented in Labuan soon to contain the pandemic on the island, said its coordinating minister, Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said the vaccination exercise in Labuan will be expedited following the sudden increase in Covid-19 cases on the island due to the spread of the B.1.617.2 Delta variant.
“As a result of my meeting with Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa yesterday, it was decided for us to implement Phase 4 of the programme to contain the pandemic spread in Labuan.
“We expect to complete the vaccination process for 80% of the adult population in Labuan by mid-July, or if possible, earlier than that, so that we can curb the spread of Covid-19 there,” said Khairy, who is also science, technology and innovation minister.
He said this at a press conference after attending the Selangor-level Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) meeting with Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari today.
Yesterday, Labuan recorded 113 new cases and four deaths, bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases on the island to 6,155.
Selangor target
Meanwhile, a daily target of 165,000 Covid-19 vaccinations has been set for Selangor by August through the opening of more vaccination centres and involvement of private clinics and hospitals, as well vaccination programmes in the field, Khairy said.
He said Selangor currently administers 43,000 doses a day, and there are plans to increase this to 135,000 daily next month in line with the government’s target to vaccinate 80% of the Selangor populace by September.
“We have discussed strategies to increase the vaccination rate in Selangor, meaning the gap between vaccines supplied and used will not be too long,” he said.
Khairy said the vaccination rate for Pfizer and Sinovac in Selangor currently stands at 68% and 61%, respectively.
As for senior citizens in Selangor, he said a total of 504,296 individuals have registered for the vaccination so far, with 45%, or 225,186, having received at least one dose of the vaccine while a total of 218,363 have received an appointment date until June 27.
“This makes it 88% of senior citizens who have registered getting at least their appointment dates. I expect Phase 2 for senior citizens who have registered to be completed by mid-July in Selangor,” he said.
Khairy said it is important for the community to understand that the government has not set aside the implementation of Phase 2, and is still carrying it out despite Phase 4 already having commenced.
“This is because, when the movement control order was implemented, there were still certain economic sectors operating and work sites have triggered infection clusters, which is why we are also focusing on Phase 4,” he said.
More vaccines
He said a Texas Instruments plant will be the first plant in Selangor to start Phase 4 of the vaccine programme tomorrow, before this is further expanded to the manufacturing and other construction sectors in the state next month.
“The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) is also compiling a list of factories that will be involved in this programme,” he said.
On reports that the Japanese government wants to donate AstraZeneca vaccines to Malaysia, Khairy said the government is still waiting for an official letter from the country, especially on the quantity pledged and other related matters.
As for the US government’s plan to donate vaccines to Asian countries, including Malaysia, he said the Mosti's deputy secretary-general will hold a meeting tonight with US State Department representatives to iron out details on the vaccines to be sent.
“This commitment was also conveyed to me by the US ambassador to Malaysia,” he said. – Bernama, June 15, 2021
