Several states begin receiving Covid-19 vaccine

 

COVID-19 | Several states in the peninsula have today started receiving the supply of Comirnaty, the Covid-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, marking the beginning of the first phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

The country’s largest vaccination programme is provided free of charge to ensure about 80 percent of the country’s population, both locals and foreigners, are protected from Covid-19 which has infected more than 290,000 people and claimed over 1,000 lives since the first case was reported in the country on Jan 25 last year.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was the first to receive the vaccine - one of two doses - at the Putrajaya Health Clinic, Presint 11 at about 3pm.

In Kedah, state Health Department director Dr Mohd Fikri Ujang said a total of 50,310 vaccine doses were allocated for the first phase of the programme in the state, to be received in stages starting today.

He said for the first phase, a total of 25,155 vaccine recipients including medical and healthcare frontliners from the Health Ministry and the private sector, as well as those from the security sector including police, civil defence force, Immigration Department, Prisons Department and Fire and Rescue Department.

The vaccine will be placed in three vaccine storage centres (VSC) each in Kota Setar, Kuala Muda and Langkawi districts, with 57 vaccination centres (PPV) have been listed statewide, 46 of which are located at Health Ministry healthcare facilities.

Meanwhile, in Negeri Sembilan, the Comirnaty vaccine arrived at the VSC at Seremban 2 Health Clinic at 11.23am.

State police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop when contacted by Bernama said to ensure the safety and smooth arrival of vaccines in the state, 15 personnel have been assigned to accompany the vehicles involved to the VSC locations.

To date, a total of 37 PPV have been identified throughout Negeri Sembilan.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin receiving his first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine today.

In Terengganu, about 15,000 doses of vaccine for the first phase will be received in the state with the vaccination process to commence on Friday.

Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said he would be the first individual in the state to receive the vaccine.

He said the first phase of PICK in Terengganu would also involve all state assemblypersons including appointed assemblypersons as they are also considered as high risk because they usually work closely with the grassroots.

Meanwhile in Malacca, a total of 11,000 doses will be received within two days with 8,190 of them safely arrived in the state at 11.55am.

State health and anti-drug committee chairperson Rahmad Mariman said the remaining vaccine will be received on Friday to be stored at the Malacca Hospital before being distributed to 24 PPVs including three hospitals and 21 health clinics statewide.

The vaccination exercise in Malacca is expected to start on March 2 involving assemblypersons and about 11,000 frontliners.

In Kelatan, state police chief Shafien Mamat said a team was deployed to bring the vaccine today to be administered to 3,922 security personnel in the state.

The first phase of the vaccination exercise involving frontliners from the Kelantan police will see a total of 1,430 officers and police officers on field duty to receive the vaccine.

In Perak, the Comirnaty vaccine from the VSC in Bayan Lepas, Penang, arrived at Taiping Hospital; Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Ipoh; Lumut Armed Forces Hospital and Teluk Intan Hospital, today.

Perak police chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the first phase of vaccine supply would be for 33,000 frontliners including 10,924 police officers and personnel. A total of 3,000 police officers and personnel will receive the vaccine beginning March 1.

Meanwhile in Pahang, a total of 23,400 doses out of a total of 64,350 for 32,175 frontliners arrived in the state.

Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said that the first delivery of the vaccine was distributed to five VSCs, namely, Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) of 9,360 doses, Kuala Lipis Hospital (4,680 doses), Temerloh Hospital (4,680), Rompin Hospital (3,510) and Bentong Hospital (1,170).

“Some 23,400 doses of vaccine received today will be administered to 11,700 frontliners and in total, we have six deliveries for this first phase which will all be carried out in stages,” he said, adding that the vaccination process in Pahang will commence on Friday. - Mkini