S’wak govt to vaccinate targeted groups in immigration depots, lockups to avoid major Covid-19 outbreaks

Dr Sim (second right) and Wee (second left) sending the residents of KMC Flat off to Tanah Puteh Health Clinic for their vaccination.

By Ling Hui

KUCHING, July 4: The Sarawak government will start vaccinating targeted groups such as in immigration depots and lockups to avoid major Covid-19 outbreaks like the second-time Semuja Cluster.

State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian said there are groups of population in the community also at high risk of contracting Covid-19.

“You can see that we still have (groups of) population at high risk (of Covid-19 infection) like the security guards. They had a cluster yesterday (July 3).

“The immigration depot (in Serian) has another cluster again, and the lockup (reported) positive (cases) again.

“So, we start targeting these people as well. They will affect our policy of opening up (businesses) and affect the community activities, that’s why we start zooming in all these targeted groups now,” he said during a visit to the vaccination drive at the KMC Flat bus stop here today.

Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Local Government and Housing, said once the whole community is vaccinated with double doses, it is hoped that the chances of major outbreaks can be eradicated.

Meanwhile, Kuching City South Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said 107 out of some 200 residents of KMC Flat who registered for Covid-19 vaccination were sent to the Tanah Puteh Health Clinic for their vaccine shots since 7.30am.

He said Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin had waived the RM1 charges for the group to board the stage buses enroute to their vaccination venue.

As for the remaining few residents, Wee said they are below 40 years old and had no issues with transportation to their respective vaccination centres.

“So, we want to make sure majority of the people get vaccinated, whether you stay in detached houses, semi-detached houses or in the KMC Flat.

“If there are more who are unable to travel to vaccination centres, do let us know and we will do our best (to arrange),” he added. — DayakDaily