GEORGE TOWN – Penang health exco Dr Norlela Ariffin has promised that more locations will be added to the list for the public to obtain their third shots, following initial setbacks resulting in slow administration of Covid-19 vaccine booster doses in the state.
At present, Penang has 86 general practitioners administering booster shots in their respective clinics, in addition to eight private hospitals and three off-site vaccination centres.
The shortlisted locations for the expansion include Dewan Pintar Taman Guar Perahu, which the state sees as suitable to function as an off-site vaccination centre. It will have the capacity to vaccinate 1,000-1,500 individuals staying in nearby villages within a single day.
Dr Norlela is happy to announce that after months of being at the bottom of the list when it comes to administering booster doses, the numbers in Penang have risen significantly – propping it to the top six states to administer the jabs currently.
Response towards booster shots had been low because many who took two doses of Sinovac were reluctant to receive the Pfizer jab.
Each vaccination centre is only equipped with 20% Sinovac vaccines, as compared to 80% Pfizer.
Dr Norlela told The Vibes that she will continue campaigning for people to get their booster jabs as those who contract Covid-19 – especially the more dangerous Delta variant – are seen to only be in Category 1 and 2, and rarely advance further.
She said although Delta cases are high in Penang, there have been no Omicron cases detected so far.
Penang recorded 276 fresh Covid-19 infections yesterday. From that total, 34 were admitted to the hospital, and another 29 had been admitted into the intensive care unit. – The Vibes, December 14, 2021
