More jab centres opening

Khairy (centre), Chow (right) and state health committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin visiting the new vaccination centre at the Setia SPICE Arena in Penang that will start dispensing vaccines on Monday. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

THE National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) will be ramped up further with three Covid-19 vaccination centres (PPVs) at private hospitals in Penang fully operational from Monday.

The hospitals are KPJ Penang, Pantai Hospital and Lam Wah Ee Hospital.

Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said a private clinic had also started offering jabs.

“Klinik Bersatu Bayan Baru has started while nine additional clinics will start from June 8, ” he said.

Khairy, who is also NIP coordinating minister, said the newly set up PPV at Setia SPICE Arena was equipped with various facilities for the elderly and disabled and was capable of administering up to 3,000 doses daily.

Workers putting up structures for the new vaccination centre at the Setia SPICE Arena in Penang.

“A total of 133,000 doses have been prepared for Penang and the first three days of vaccination drive will see 1,000 doses administered daily.

“It will be increased to 3,000 doses daily on weekdays and 2,000 doses daily on weekends, ” he said.

Khairy said the state would be briefed on the schedule of vaccine deliveries as proposed by the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) to ensure smooth transition.

“If the state accepts the schedule then we will make preparations to ensure delivery of vaccines is followed closely by the dispensing process.

“I expect that in July and August, delivery of vaccines will increase tremendously and more preparations are needed to accept large shipments to ensure those vaccines are used up quickly, ” he said.

Khairy said Penang would open up two more PPVs for the industrial sector by mid of this month.

Khairy: We will open up PPVs for the industrial sector within the next two weeks.

“Penang has proposed to open up PPVs in industrial areas such as in Bayan Lepas and Batu Kawan.

“This is for the convenience of the employees who are working during the lockdown to be vaccinated.

“Following discussion with International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, we will open up PPVs for the industrial sector within the next two weeks, ” he said.

Khairy also announced that other PPVs such as the one at Penang Pesta site with a capacity of 1,000 doses daily would open next week, while another in Universiti Sains Malaysia with a drive-thru option would start on June 14.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was present, said the state hoped to complete the Covid-19 immunisation programme by the end of October.

A special place reserved for people with disabilities to wait and receive their vaccine shots.

“To achieve the target, we need to vaccinate between 9,000 and 10,000 people daily.

“In Penang, we have 1.34 million targeted recipients and registration is still ongoing.

“With vaccination drives ramped up, I hope more people will register.

“We will need to ensure all PPVs are opened as planned and to further instil confidence in the people with proper scheduling provided to them, ” he said.

The Setia SPICE PPV is the first mass vaccination centre in Penang and is scheduled to start operations on Monday to dispense AstraZeneca vaccines.

Vaccination centres in Penang

Northeast District

1) Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang

Since: April 19

Capacity: 800 people daily

2) Tapak Pesta Sungai Nibong

Starting: June 8

Capacity: 1,000 people daily

Southwest District

1) Balik Pulau Sports Complex

Since: April 19

Capacity: 800 people daily

2) Dewan Balai Rakyat Bayan Baru

Opening soon

Capacity: 600 people daily

North Seberang Prai District

1) Dewan Millenium in Kepala Batas

Since: April 19

Capacity: 800 people daily

2) Pusat Konvensyen Perda

Opening soon

Capacity: 800 people daily

Central Seberang Prai District

1) Seberang Perai Arena (SP Arena)

Since: April 19

Capacity: 800 people daily

2) Dewan Tapak Ekspo Seberang Jaya

Starting: June 14

Capacity: 600 people daily

South Seberang Prai District

1) Dewan Serbaguna Jawi

Since April 19

Capacity: 1,200 people

2) Dewan Serbaguna Sungai Bakap

Opening soon

Capacity: 1,200 people

Vaccination centres in private hospitals

Expected to start June 7

1) Lam Wah Ee Hospital

2) Pantai Hospital

3) KPJ Hospital

Expected to start June 14

1) Loh Guan Lye Specialists Centre

2) Penang Adventist Hospital

3) Gleneagles Hospital

More vaccination centres will be announced soon to increase the number of doses administered in Penang per day. All registrations and appointments with hospitals are listed in MySejahtera app as stipulated by National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.