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ALOR STAR – Kedah needs to increase the number of vaccination centres (PPVs) and its jab supply to ramp up inoculation coverage in the state, which is among the bottom four in the country in terms of the percentage of the population immunised.
The other three states are Sabah, Johor and Kelantan.
Kedah DAP chief Tan Kok Yew in a statement said the 31 PPVs statewide are insufficient.
“On August 6, Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor officiated at another mega PPV, at the Amanjaya Sports Arena in Sg Petani.
“It is one of the largest integrated PPVs in Kedah, able to administer up to almost 5,000 doses a day.
“This can help expedite the realisation of the state’s target of inoculating 80% of people in Kuala Muda district.
“However, our failure is still the inadequate supply of vaccines coming into Kedah.”
He called on Sanusi to urge the federal government to increase the amount of doses supplied to the state.
“I have yet to feel the initiative claimed by the state government or see clearly its implementation to resolve this matter, other than blaming the people for not complying with the SOPs and joking about the rakyat’s misery.
“The state government should take proactive measures to allocate a certain amount of money to purchase vaccines if the federal government is unable to do so.
“What’s wrong with the people’s money being used for their health and well-being?
“The menteri besar needs to focus on issues like this, not trivial matters. The safety of the people must be given priority, and the people of Kedah have the right to be protected.”
State health exco Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman told The Vibes that 80% of Kuala Muda folk are expected to be vaccinated by October.
“In Langkawi, we are administering 3,000 doses a day, and almost everyone on the island has been vaccinated.”
He said many vaccination drives are being conducted, including the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park, as well as Minebea Electronics Motor in Sg Petani.
Other soon-to-be-launched initiatives include the Community Vaccine Mobilisation Programme by the Housing and Local Government Ministry, and Retail Industry Vaccination Programme by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
Kedah is expected to receive 260,000 vaccine doses weekly this month. – The Vibes, August 9, 2021
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