LABUAN – Labuan today sees 80% of its adult population fully vaccinated against Covid-19, meaning it is the first in Malaysia to attain herd immunity.
The federal territory has administered the full vaccination regimen to 54,800 of its 68,500 adults listed as eligible under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
The island’s Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) and Disaster Management Committee (DMC) described the programme as a difficult task to execute, but great teamwork saw to its success.
“We are pleased to have achieved herd immunity three days earlier than the targeted date of July 30,” Labuan CITF chairman Rithuan Ismail told Bernama.
“The achievement is the success of the people on the island, who are aware of the importance of Covid-19 vaccination, and teamwork by task force and DMC members, as well as volunteers.
“The number of people vaccinated in June was lower than 14,000, but it rose drastically to 40,800 in 37 days and (to the figure) today.”
The immunisation drive in Labuan was launched on February 27 by Senator Datuk Bashir Alias, who became the first person on the island to get the jab.
Labuan has recorded a total of 9,607 Covid-19 cases and 146 deaths.
According to CITF, 95.7% of the territory’s adult population has received at least the first dose as of yesterday.
Labuan Health Department director Dr Ismuni Bohari said residents must accept that they will continue to live with Covid-19, and given this, they have to adhere to health and safety standard operating procedures.
“At least for one or two years, we will have to live with the pandemic. We must ensure our family members and friends are fully vaccinated to protect ourselves against Covid-19.” – Bernama, July 27, 2021
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