SPAOH, June 23: Sarawak expects to get the first shipment of the single dose CanSino vaccine by the middle of July.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the state had requested 650,000 doses of the vaccine.
He told the media this after visiting the Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Spaoh Community Hall here today.
“The CanSino (vaccine) is very much suitable for our people living deep in the interiors like the Penans.
“Our medical teams will only need to visit them once to vaccinate them, thus cutting down on logistics, transportation and other costs,” he said.
Uggah added that the medical teams had recently visited a number of longhouses and villages in the interior of Miri and Kapit Divisions to administer the Sinovac vaccine.
“We had to do this immediately due to the outbreaks in these locations which warranted our immediate response.
“As always, our priority is to save lives,” he pointed out.
On the Betong Division vaccination programme roll out, Uggah who is also Bukit Saban assemblyman said he was satisfied with the performance and achievement of all the frontliners.
“I was told by Betong Division Health Officer Dr Johnny Pangkas that to date, a total of 35,312 people had been given the first dose and 7,236 the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“I am confident, based on the achievement and the pace at which our frontliners are moving, Betong Division can complete its vaccination programme by the end of next month,” he said.
Uggah who is also Deputy Chief Minister also thanked the Betong Division Disaster Management Committee for its efficiency in the organisation of the vaccination programme.
Meanwhile, as of yesterday Uggah said a total of 54,746 doses had been administered statewide.
“At one time, we had even succeeded in giving 55,000 doses per day,” he noted.
To-date, he added a total of 910,595 people in the state had received either the first or second doses.
“I would like to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to all the frontliners and all those involved.
“Some have to work double shifts per day for the vaccination, which is the biggest health operation in the history of the nation,” he asserted.
Sarawak, according to Uggah, had laid the foundations for its vaccination programme a few months ago.
In the meantime, Betong Member of Parliament Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat, a political secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Richard Rapu, Resident of Betong Division Friday Belik and Dr Johnny were among those accompanying Uggah at the Spaoh community hall for his working visit there. — DayakDaily
