Some 600k seniors await vaccination, only 39pct of PWD jabbed

 

A total of 604,152 senior citizens registered for Phase 2 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) are still waiting for their first dose of the life-saving vaccines.

This makes up 21 percent of all aged 60 and above, who registered nationwide.

It also means 125,191 senior citizens nationwide have been vaccinated from June 30 until yesterday.

The data was revealed by the minister in charge of the NIP, Khairy Jamaluddin at the weekly briefing today.

The numbers fall short of his promise on June 20, for all registered senior citizens to get their appointments within a fortnight.

Phase 2 includes senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD) and people with comorbidities.

Less than half of registered PWDs vaccinated

Nationwide, 6,282,986 or 81 percent of those who registered under Phase 2 have been vaccinated.

However, the PWD category is far behind, with only 127,775 or 39 percent of persons with disabilities vaccinated.

Meanwhile, 3.85 million or 93 percent of those with comorbidities have been vaccinated nationwide, Khairy said.

Those aged above 60 and those with chronic illnesses make up the bulk of patients who died of Covid-19.

They also make up the bulk of those ventilated or in need of intensive care.

To date, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan, Penang, Selangor and Sarawak have moved on to Phase 3 of the NIP because at least 80 percent of Phase 1 and 2 recipients there have received appointments for vaccination.

Phase 3 involves all recipients under the age of 60.

Phase 4, which runs concurrently with Phase 2 and 3, involves workers from selected industries whose companies have agreed to foot the cost of logistics and administering the vaccines.

Malaysia aims to vaccinate at a rate of 300,000 a day in July, with 130,000 of that in Selangor. - Mkini