By Karen Bong
KUCHING, June 24: A total of 358 residents of Kampung Sinar Budi who tested negative for their second swab tests have been vaccinated on the last night of lockdown prior to release from quarantine yesterday as Sarawak health authorities took another aggressive approach to combat Covid-19.
Minister for Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian hopes that this latest approach of vaccinating before release from quarantine would reduce the recurrence of Covid-19 cases in the community and locality under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
“(Inoculation for) 358 residents (was completed) in less than four hours.
“The health authorities are using the method where vaccinators go to the people instead of having people moved around,” he said in a Facebook post last night.
During the operation last night, Dr Sim, who is a cardiologist, added that he had the honour and privilege to vaccinate a 99-year-old woman while she was seated in the car.
He commended the teamwork of volunteers comprising doctors, nurses and support staff from Batu Kawa health clinic, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and non-governmental organisation (NGO) to have enabled Sarawak to realise such a tremendous achievement.
Dr Sim, who is also State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor, also disclosed that Sarawak has scaled up its vaccination programme, with 468,444 Covid-19 vaccine shots given in 10 days from June 12 to 22 as compared to the first three months since the State immunisation drive was launched.
“This is compared to only 442,061 doses administered between Feb 26 and June 12.
“Just give us the vaccines and Sarawakians are capable of vaccinating beyond expectations even though there are not many doctors and nurses as in the rest of the country,” he said in the following post.
With vaccination being ramped up throughout Sarawak, Dr Sim again reminded people to regularly check their MySejahtera app for their vaccination appointment as coverage will be extended to those born in the 70s this week.
“This will be followed by those born in the 80s.
“Don’t arrive too early but 30 minutes before the appointment time is sufficient in order to give everyone a stress-free and positive experience,” he added. — DayakDaily
