GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government is asking for a supply of additional vaccines from the federal government in an effort to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19 in the state.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that as of yesterday, Penang had recorded a 77.5% first-dose vaccination rate in its adult population, while 45.4% had received both doses.
“The vaccine supply constraint being faced by Penang needs to be overcome fast in view of the rising number of daily cases,” he said in a statement today.
Chow said the state government on August 6 had requested an additional supply of 500,000 doses of vaccine but only received 210,000 doses.
“Therefore, the time has come to focus on the need for vaccines by states outside the Greater Klang Valley programme so as to increase current vaccination rates,” he added.
Chow had previously stated that Penang hopes to achieve a 100% first-dose inoculation rate for its adult population by early next month. – Bernama, August 23, 2021
