Vaccination rate: Sabah lagging, ministry to increase outreach programmes

 

COVID-19 | Sabah is expected to be the last state to achieve an 80 percent vaccination rate for its adult population, according to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said reports showed that vaccination centres (PPVs) in the state no longer receive many visitors, which contributed to a slower process of immunisation.

As of yesterday, Sabah's vaccination rate is the lowest with only 63.3 percent of its adult population having received a complete dose.

"According to our projection, all states are expected to reach 80 percent in October, while only one state - Sabah - is found to face some problem to achieve the target.

"I have contacted the state health director to further increase their outreach programmes because the Health Ministry found from reports that not many people are going to the PPVs there anymore.

"As for several other states like Kelantan and Perak, I am confident that they will be able to achieve the target," Khairy told a press conference earlier today.

He was answering a question about his ministry's plan to increase vaccination rates in certain states that are lagging, as the government plans to allow interstate travel soon.

The Health Ministry’s statistics show that four other states that have yet to reach 80 percent are Kelantan (72.9 percent), Perak (77.3 percent), Kedah (78.2 percent), and Pahang (79 percent).

'Enforcement will be ongoing'

On allowing interstate travel, Khairy said the ministry has looked into a suggestion to have those who refuse Covid-19 immunisation do self-testing, but it found that such a rule cannot be enforced.

"Are we going to check each and every traveller's vaccination status, and if they are unvaccinated, then are they to be tested there and then?

"I think the people will be more upset if we do this," he said.

However, Khairy assured the public that the government is not washing their hands of the responsibility to ensure their safety during the pandemic.

He said the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) are still in force, and those unvaccinated will continue to be barred from many activities such as dining in at restaurants.

"I have asked the police to continue to enforce the SOPs via their Op Patuh. For example, the police will do random spot checks at restaurants.

"So, if they find anyone unvaccinated dining in, then the police will compound the individual and also the premise owners.

"Enforcement will be ongoing, and eventually, those who break the law will be caught."

Meanwhile, Khairy told reporters that the existing ceiling price set for Covid-19 self-test kits would be further lowered soon.

"I have discussed this matter with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, and we have arrived at a ceiling price which will be fair to both distributors and consumers.

"We will announce it soon. But it will take some time to allow suppliers to clear their existing stock before the new ceiling price is implemented," Khairy said.

The government had last month decided to cap the retail price of Covid-19 antigen rapid test kits intended for self-testing at RM19.90 each. - Mkini

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