By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, May 17: The Sarawak government has approved the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine for voluntary use, reveals National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (Pick) Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said the federal government will communicate with the State Health Department on the best approach to implement it as part of vaccinations in Sarawak.
“Sarawak has approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for voluntary use.
“We will contact the State Health Department on what is the best approach to implement it in Sarawak,” he said during a virtual press conference to give updates on the progress of Pick today.
Khairy was responding to a reporter’s question about whether the Sarawak government has agreed to the use of the AstraZenaca Covid-19 vaccine and how it is going to be implemented in Sarawak.
On another note, Khairy said the second round of the AstraZenaca opt-in programme will open on May 23 and priority will be given to those aged above 60 in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sarawak and Johor where the number of Covid-19 cases is high.
He disclosed that bookings to receive the AstraZenaca Covid-19 vaccine can be done through the website and community clinic outreach programmes at district health offices.
Khairy said the government will allocate a certain quota for the AstraZenaca vaccine to be provided to cater to registrations made via district health offices.
He explained that the purpose was to enable the AstraZenaca vaccine to be distributed to elderly care homes in Klang Valley, Johor, Sarawak and Penang to enable the elders in those states to be vaccinated.
Apart from that, Khairy who is also the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said the second round of the AstraZenaca opt-in programme will only open to the public and those below the age of 60 on May 26 if there are empty slots.
He said the priority for the second round of AstraZenaca opt-in is for senior citizens and approximately 25,000 people from the first round who were on the waiting list. — DayakDaily
