SIBU, Feb 27: There is an improvement in the public’s perception on Covid-19 vaccine as the state has started to roll up its vaccination programme involving frontliners first.
Speaking to reporters after being the first in town to be vaccinated today, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Dr Annuar Rapaee said based on the response from the public during his daily Facebook Livestream it had turned from negative to positive.
The vaccination was done at Lanang Health Clinic.
“When I started my FB Live session (a week ago), people were talking negatively about the vaccine. But lately there has been an improvement as most of them have started to give positive feedback,” he noted.
He said previously from the questions forwarded by the viewers, they were talking on the possible side effects of the vaccines.
“But now people are asking whether they can have it or not. This shows that people are beginning to have more confidence in the vaccine,” he said.
As Sibu is still recording a high number of new cases, he urged those who had been infected with the disease to be more honest with those who had close contact with them.
“Be honest to tell your friends if they have come into contact with you. Tell them to go for a swab test. This is one of the ways for us to control the spread of the disease. The others are to follow the SOP” he said.
On the vaccination programme for Sibu, the Nangka assemblyman said they are divided into two phases.
“Phase One involves 3,500 frontliners which began last night. Most of these frontliners are from the hospital while others include policemen, soldiers, Rela members and Civil Defence Force personnel,” he said.
Phase 2 is for senior citizens and people with disabilities. It will be from April to August.
Asked on how he felt after being vaccinated, he replied “I don’t feel anything at all. Of course everybody will fear the needle. I am a doctor, I also fear needles but there is nothing to worry about.”
Meanwhile Sibu district police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit was also among those receiving the vaccine. — DayakDaily
