KUCHING: The federal government is receptive to the state government’s proposal of vaccinating all people in remote locations at once rather than according to phase criteria in an effort to facilitate vaccination in the state’s interior.
In saying this, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said very detailed planning had to be done to expedite the state’s Covid-19 immunisation programme and ensure that the vaccines covered all areas of Sarawak.
“That is why we have proposed to Kuala Lumpur (KL) that in situations where the area is in the very interior, we may not be able to follow the criteria of Phase 2 and Phase 3,” he said at SDMC’s Covid-19 update press conference today.
“If we go to Bario, we will vaccinate everyone there irrespective of if they are in Phase 2 or Phase 3,” he said as an example.
He said this was to reduce having to go back and forth to remote locations, which would result in complications.
“So we are adjusting and KL is receptive to our proposal,” said Uggah, who is also Deputy Chief Minister.
In response to a question on the total cost spent by the state for its immunisation programme, he said this is still being worked on.
“This morning, we were briefed by all the divisions regarding their plan and estimated costs. Once we have gotten all the reports, then we will let you know,” he said, adding that this is a very expensive and massive operation.
“It is one of the biggest challenges for SDMC — how to make sure that these vaccines will be able to be given to the people on schedule,” he said.
He said the state’s target of vaccinating 2.2 million people in Sarawak by the end of August would depend on the availability of the vaccines.
With regard to measures taken by the state government to speed up the vaccination process, he said they had conveyed to KL that, given the opportunity, Sarawak would be willing to purchase its own supply of vaccines to enable the state to meet its requirements.
“The Sarawak government has set aside some funds in case there are issues of acquiring the vaccines,” said Uggah.
Meanwhile, State Health Department (JKNS) director Dr Chin Zin Hing said since the start of the state’s Covid-19 immunisation programme, there had been a slight wastage of less than 20 vaccines due to handling.
He also said that members of the media were not included in the list of frontliners in terms of vaccinations.
