Ismail Sabri: Another six million Covid-19 vaccine doses expected to arrive early September

 

PETALING JAYA: The government has bought an additional six million Covid-19 vaccine doses and they are expected to arrive in early September, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The newly appointed Prime Minister said he remained optimistic that due to the success of the ongoing vaccination programme, it will allow the prospect of many to return to visit their parents at their hometowns, celebrate festivities, and for students to return to schools and higher education learning institutions.

Citing the latest data from Friday (Aug 20), he said the daily number of new cases in Labuan dropped drastically to a single digit for seven days in a row after 90% of the adult population had received their vaccinations.

"In catalysing the achievement of herd immunity similar to Labuan, in conjunction with the National Day celebration, I am happy to announce the additional purchase of six million doses of vaccines, which will arrive in early September this year," he said in his maiden speech on Sunday (Aug 22).

He said such talk was not just an empty dream, as the country had previously managed to bring down the statistics of Covid-19 patients.

"This does not mean we will be completely free from the Covid-19 threat. Rather, when we achieve herd immunity, the virus will not pose a serious threat.”

The Prime Minister also noted that the government will ensure that each intervention and efforts to reduce Covid-19 cases must be done more comprehensively.

He explained that such efforts will be carried out via strategic inter-government cooperation with the involvement of stakeholders, from public and agencies, as well as private sectors to ensure that the healthcare system becomes stable.

"Based on that data, the government will pursue the previous government's efforts, as Malaysia's vaccination rate is among the fastest in the world.

"Malaysia consistently rolled out more than 500,000 doses per day," he said.

In order to achieve the target earlier, the government will ensure all the initiatives and strategies in improving the ongoing National Immunisation Covid-19 programme will be boosted, said the Prime Minister.

He also thanked all Malaysians who had given their full cooperation in taking the vaccines.

"The capabilities to fight the pandemic more effectively need commitment from all Malaysians.

"To those who have yet to register, please ask your family members to do so immediately," he said.

“We will help and also appreciate the sacrifices of frontliners who are working hard to ensure the rakyat can immediately return to normalcy under a new norm,” he added. - Star