By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, June 26: Industrial vaccination centres (PPVI) set up by various sectors in Sarawak will pave the way for the rejuvenation of the State’s economy post Covid-19.
In stating this, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Stakan branch chairman Dato Sim Kiang Chiok described vaccination as the crucial cure or silver bullet to stop the virus.
To speed up the vaccination rates, he noted that the federal government has allowed the rolling out of vaccines by big industrial companies with large employees.
“For this industrial vaccination phase, vaccines are provided by the government for free but the employers must pay for the setting up of the PPVI and private medical personnel cost. The employees do not have to pay anything.
“This is to allow the big industrial companies to assist the government to speed up the roll-out of vaccines. Of course the success of the programme is also subjected to vaccine arrival from the manufacturers,” he said in a statement today.
Among the PPVIs being set up in Kuching are at Samajaya by Longi, The Spring Shopping Mall, Vivacity Shopping Mall and Association of Churches Sarawak.
Sim also lauded Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s announcement to provide PPVI for the plantation sector soon, pointing out that it will assist the State in achieving its herd immunity much earlier.
“With these PPVIs by various sectors, it will ensure that the economy will be able to operate when the government implements the Covid-19 Exit Plan accordingly to the announced road map.
“The manpower to these sectors will be vaccinated and protected against the Covid-19 infection and our country will be able to resume and recover, with the economy being revitalised onto the growth path again,” he added.
He further noted that in Sarawak, the Health Ministry (MOH) has been doing a great job in administering over 60,000 vaccine doses per day. As of June 24, over 1 million doses have been administered in Sarawak.
“With this rate, Sarawak will be able to achieve its 80 per cent herd immunity by August this year with the promised supply of more than 380,000 doses per week starting June as announced by Federal Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Khairy Jamaluddin.
“Until we are all vaccinated until we have achieve herd immunity, please continue observing the standard operating procedures (SOP) such as washing our hands, wearing face masks, and practise social distancing. Stay safe and stay at home,” he concluded. — DayakDaily
