By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 19: Sarawakians aged 60 years and above can start registering to opt-in for AstraZeneca (AZ) Covid-19 vaccine starting this coming Sunday (May 23) to May 26 via https://www.vaksincovid.gov.my/.
Sarawak, according to the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), will follow the procedure laid out by the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) as announced by coordinator of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP) Khairy Jamaluddin.
SDMC pointed out that the registration is currently closed and will be open on May 23 for Sarawak.
Following registration and booking for appointments, the vaccine, which will be given free will be administered in additional dedicated immunisation centres.
Khairy, who is also Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, had informed that the government will open the second round of AZ vaccines for registration from May 23 to 26 with priority given to those above the age of 60.
“If there are excess vaccine slots that have not been taken up, then the AZ vaccines will become available to the general public (those under the age of 60) for registration after May 26.
“High risk groups such as those above the age of 60 will be given early access for the AZ vaccine registration for round 2,” he said in a press conference in Putrajaya two days ago.
Khairy added that the AZ vaccine registration will be extended outside of the Klang Valley to three other states, namely Johor, Sarawak and Penang due to the high number of Covid-19 cases reported.
However, he also pointed out that those on the waiting list when they registered for AZ vaccines during the first round of registrations on May 5, will also get an appointment for their vaccine shots.
The government will open online applications starting next week for those who wish to shorten the intervals between the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines.
Currently, the interval for the first and second vaccine shots for AZ is 12 weeks (three months).
“We will allow for those who wish to apply for a shorter vaccine interval to apply on a website next week. This is for the likes of those such as students who are going abroad to study,’’ he added.
On May 15, Khairy had announced that Malaysia is expected to receive one million more doses of the AZ vaccine, procured via the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access or Covax, within this month. — DayakDaily
