KOTA BARU – The Kelantan government is appealing to the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry to approve the state’s request for one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine before the onset of the monsoon season in October.
Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob said the state government was worried about its people not being sufficiently protected from the virus during the monsoon season if it fails to vaccinate 80% of its population as targeted.
He said that so far, over 30% of Kelantan’s population had received the first dose of vaccine while over 13% had completed the second.
“We expect to achieve the target of 40% vaccinated by the end of August if supplies can be obtained as scheduled.
“We are appealing to the ministry to fulfil the state government’s request for one million doses to protect our people before the coming of the monsoon season.”
Ahmad said this to reporters after attending the launching of the state-level National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang Programme at Kompleks Kota Darulnaim here today.
Also present were Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, state police chief Datuk Shafien Mamat, and Information Department director Azahar Ismail.
Ahmad said the state government was also prepared to administer vaccines through walk-ins if supplies could be obtained as requested.
“If this goes through, we expect to be able to give 33,000 vaccine jabs in a day, besides optimising the operation of the 27 vaccination centres in the state.
“We will be cooperating with the State Health Department in this matter (walk-in vaccinations) if we receive the vaccine supplies,” he added. – Bernama, August 8, 2021
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