KUCHING, May 19: PRS Women has applauded the initiative taken by the Sarawak GPS-led government headed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for procuring its own supply of an additional 500,000 doses of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines.
The Sinovac vaccines will be used in the first phase of the Covid-19 immunisation drive while more vaccines will be procured for the second phase.
PRS Women chief Dato Sri Doris Sophia Brodie said this was a very consoling piece of news for all Sarawakians.
“It is good to note that the green light is now also given to private hospitals to assist in speeding up vaccination rollout.
“All these will definitely expedite the vaccination process and especially so because it allows big and financially capable organisations i.e corporate companies, industries and plantations to be able to deal direct with private hospitals to get their employees vaccinated.
“It is our utmost hope that all these organisations will grab this opportunity and ensure that their employees are vaccinated accordingly with the Covid-19 vaccines,” said Doris in a statement today.
Doris, who is also political secretary to the Chief Minister, said the sooner the Sarawak government procures the vaccine doses the better it would be, as it allows more Sarawakians to be vaccinated and hasten herd immunity in Sarawak.
“The Sarawak government is obviously putting health and the wellbeing of all Sarawakians above and over all else.
“We call upon fellow Sarawakians to register themselves accordingly to be vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccines. It is our responsibility as Sarawakians to ensure that we get ourselves registered for vaccination and adhere to the SOP (standard operating procedures) at all times,” said Doris.
Abang Johari this morning announced in Bintulu that the Sarawak government will procure an additional 500,000 doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine for the first phase of the State Covid-19 immunisation drive on top of roping in private hospitals to speed up the vaccination rollout.
He confirmed that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has agreed to these measures following a meeting between the leaders two weeks ago.
“The federal government has also approved for Sarawak to rope in private hospitals which have been gazetted to administer vaccines especially in urban areas to speed up the Covid-19 immunisation rollout in Sarawak,” he told a press conference during a working visit to assess the Covid-19 situation in Bintulu this morning.
When these measures are in place in due time, Abang Johari pointed out that corporate companies including industries and plantations can then make arrangements with approved private hospitals for their employees to be inoculated. — DayakDaily
