By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Sept 20: One-dose Cansino vaccines will arrive in Kuching on September 21 and 22 where they will later be further distributed to the areas needing it especially Miri.
According to Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the Cansino vaccines arriving tomorrow and the day after would not be of a significant amount.
He said in the initial stage, SDMC was hoping to only rely on this single dose vaccination to be given to the people of the interior area but later, it had a change of mind after looking at the level of supply and the uncertain date of delivery.
“I think we have made a good decision (of not relying on Cansino but starting to administer two-dose vaccines to those living in the interior). Otherwise, quite a lot of interior (residents by now would) have not been given the vaccines (yet).
“Now, they are many who have already been vaccinated and these (interior) areas, are very high percentage (in terms of vaccination rate), I think easily 90 per cent,” he said in a press conference today called to announce the formation of Covid-19 Awareness Working Committee which is tasked to educate and inform the public on Covid-19 situation and to prepare the public to move into post vaccination era.
Uggah who is also Deputy Chief Minister said there are still some in the interior Penan villages and plantations that have yet to be vaccinated.
He stressed that if Sarawak had relied on Cansino as it initially planned, and with Cansino only arriving now, many more in the interior would still be waiting for their vaccination.
Elected representatives from rural areas such as Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau has been advocating for the use of Cansino in his part of constituency. This was because for the rural folks to get to the nearest vaccination centre, it may mean a few hours of four-wheel drive. Some even need to take boat trips.
To lessen their burden and to reduce the time they spend on traveling, Dennis has been hoping for Cansino where these rural folks need to make only one trip instead of two, as in the case of two-dose vaccines.
Following the arrival of Cansino, it is foreseen that these vaccines will be sent to Miri, to further distribute to Ulu Baram areas and other villages difficult to reach in very interior of Sarawak. — DayakDaily
