Kelantan govt wants 1m vaccines before monsoon season

 

The Kelantan state government is appealing to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (Mosti) to approve the state’s request for one million doses of Covid-19 vaccines before the onset of the monsoon season in October.

Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob said they were worried about people in the state not getting appropriate protection from the virus during the monsoon season if 80 percent of its population could not be vaccinated as targeted.

He said so far, over 28.1 percent of Kelantan’s population had received the first dose of the vaccine while over 15.8 percent got their second dose.

“We expect to achieve the target of 40 percent to be vaccinated by the end of August if the supply of vaccines can be obtained as scheduled.

“So, we are appealing to Mosti to fulfil the state government’s request for one million doses of vaccines to protect our people’s lives before the coming of the monsoon season,” Ahmad (above) said.

He said this to reporters after attending the launching of the state-level National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang Programme at Kompleks Kota Darulnaim, in Kota Bharu, today.

Also present were Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, state police chief Shafien Mamat, and Information Department director Azahar Ismail.

Ahmad said the state government was also prepared to administer the vaccine through walk-ins, provided they get the supply they need.

“If this is so, we expect that 33,000 vaccine jabs can be given in a day, besides being able to optimise the operation of the 27 vaccination centres in the state.

“We will be cooperating with the State Health Department in this matter (walk-in vaccination) if we receive the vaccine supply,” he added.

- Bernama