GEORGE TOWN – Penang has been pushing the Health Ministry to expedite booster shots for 41,000 frontliners and 28,000 senior citizens at nursing homes in Penang.
“I am worried for frontliners and senior citizens at nursing homes. They are vulnerable groups we need to vaccinate; otherwise their immune systems will become weak if we take too long to administer booster shots.
“So far only 16,000 frontliners in the state have received booster shots. It is very risky and dangerous for frontliners on the ground,” state Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said.
She also said the administration of booster shots was slow in Penang compared with other states, as the state gave only 1,419 booster shots yesterday compared with 20,705 in Sarawak and 9,586 in Selangor.
She expressed her fear of repercussions following the Melaka election and “election tourism”, which will attract many visitors to the state.
Meanwhile, the reduction in new Covid-19 cases over the last few weeks has led three northern states to enter Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan and the Education Ministry to allow schools to reopen.
According to Health Ministry statistics, vaccination indices for adults in the three states had contributed to the reduction of new pandemic cases, with Perlis registering only 472 active cases, Kedah 2,669 cases, and Penang 2,288 cases.
In Perlis, 196,860 people have been fully inoculated, while 202,989 have received their first dose and 2,773 have received booster shots.
Currently, 370 infected individuals are under home quarantine, 31 at low-risk treatment centres and 71 admitted to hospitals. To date, the state has recorded 118 deaths and 5,102 recoveries.
Kedah has registered 2,669 active cases, whereby 2,243 are under home quarantine, 222 at low-risk treatment centres, 78 have been warded at hospitals, and 17 in intensive care units without ventilators and nine with ventilators.
It has recorded 2,009 deaths, of which 306 cases were brought in dead. A total of 146,590 individuals recovered from the disease.
Penang has recorded 2,288 active cases, whereby 1,958 people have been placed under home quarantine, 114 were being treated at low-risk treatment centres, and 187 hospitalised with 36 patients in ICUs, 15 using ventilators and 21 without ventilators.
The state has so far administered a total of 2,999,392 vaccinations. – The Vibes, November 9, 2021
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