KUALA LUMPUR – About two million Covid-19 vaccine doses are needed to ensure all workers in the construction sector are immunised against the disease, thus enabling them to continue contributing to the nation’s development.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said based on recent records, there are almost one million workers registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), of whom 70% are locals.
He said the ministry is actively carrying out the Construction Industry Vaccination Programme (CIVac) under CIDB.
“For a start, CIVac is allocated 80,000 doses for 40,000 construction workers in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor,” he told reporters at the CIDB Convention Centre today.
Present was National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Fadillah said CIDB opened the jab registration for construction workers in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya on June 21, and all slots were booked in less than 24 hours.
Given the overwhelming response, he said, the ministry will request another 200,000 vaccine doses for Phase 2 of CIVac, involving over 100,000 workers in Penang, Johor and Pahang.
He added that the vaccination centre for CIVac in Selangor will be Shah Alam’s Panasonic Sports Complex, to operate starting July 14.
As for Sabah and Sarawak, the ministry is studying the states’ preparedness before the programme is expanded there, he said.
Fadillah said the ministry and CIDB will present a proposal to the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force on carrying out vaccinations at construction sites or workers’ accommodation. – Bernama, July 1, 2021
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