SIBU: Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) coordinator Dr Annuar Rapaee has urged local residents aged 60 and above to register for the AstraZeneca (AZ) Covid-19 vaccine through the website www.vaksincovid.gov.my starting tomorrow (Sunday).
He made the call during a visit to the vaccination centre at the Sibu Indoor Stadium here today (May 22)
Dr Annuar said recently, minister in charge of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Khairy Jamaluddin stated that registration for the AZ vaccine would open to residents of Kuching and Miri tomorrow (Sunday).
“The initial allocation of the AZ vaccine was for Kuching and Miri but after that, the registration was expanded to all Sarawakians aged 60 and above.
“Actually, I personally discussed this matter with the chairman of the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas last night,” said the Public Health and Housing Assistant Minister.
He explained that the Sibu DDMC would apply for the supply of the AZ vaccine if it was well received by those aged 60 and above including those in Sibu.
“Uggah has agreed to our application and will apply to Khairy to supply the AZ vaccine to Sibu if the number of people who register for it is encouraging.
“Therefore, there is no problem of the vaccine not given to Sibu. The party responsible for this AZ vaccine programme just wants to see the response here for a start,” he said.
Dr Annuar revealed that in the next few weeks more vaccine supplies would be arriving in Sibu.
Following his meeting with the Sibu DDMC last Friday, he revealed that the Sibu Jaya Multipurpose Hall would be used as a vaccination centre.
“The target is to vaccinate as many as 190,000 people in Sibu to reach the immunisation level but so far, only around 110,000 people have registered.
“Besides the Sibu Indoor Stadium, Sibu Jaya Multipurpose Hall, Lanang Health Clinic and Sibu Jaya Health Clinic will continue to implement vaccinations with a target of 190,000 people in August and a vaccination rate of 17,000 people per week.
“We need at least 10 weeks to complete this vaccination with at least 190,000 people already receiving their first dose,” he said.
