KUCHING: Putrajaya takes notes of Sarawak’s request to give priority to vaccinating its people, particularly those in the Covid-19 red zones.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the state government’s request for additional vaccines in the red zone area has basis.
“In principle, we agree, but we also need to look in details as other states also need the vaccine supply.
“At the same time, we want to find a way to reduce the number of Covid-19 cases to the lowest level. And we will work on it,” he said told reporters after visiting Sarawak General Hospital’s (SGH) new Day Care Centre today (April 2).
He said the question is not about not wanting to supply the additional vaccine, but the issue was whether the supplier could send the vaccine at one time.
“Some of it (vaccine) arrives tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, so we have to send it in batches.
“If the suppliers can send it immediately, then we will get it immediately. If they follow a certain schedule, we have to wait for the supplier. That is the issue now,” he said.
On Sarawak’s intention to procure its own vaccine to step up its vaccination programme, the prime minister said in principle the federal government has no objection to the state’s decision to purchase its own supplies.
“The efforts by the state government (on getting additional vaccines) would ease the federal government’s burden in managing the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
However, he said the only issue was on whether the state could procure the vaccine supplies.
“I think this is not easy, as there are some countries that have yet to receive enough supplies,” he said.
Adding on, Muhyiddin added that last year he had instructed the ministers responsible to get the vaccine to make sure the supply was enough for all Malaysians and non-Malaysians in the country and at the same time obtaining the vaccine at reasonable prices.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme rolled out on Feb 26. The government targets to vaccinate 70 percent of Malaysians to achieve herd immunity.
