State directing supplies to PPVs in central Seberang Prai

Health officials processing the consent forms of vaccine recipients at the Penang Pesta PPV site in Sungai Nibong, Penang.

MORE Covid-19 vaccines will be channelled to the vaccination centres (PPV) in central Seberang Prai in view of the high number of cases there among the five districts in Penang.

Penang health committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said many people in their 30s and 40s in the district have not received their first vaccine jabs.

She said the state government received over 230,000 doses of vaccines last week, with another 300,000 doses coming this week.

“We have received some from the PPV in Kuala Lumpur that had closed.

“This means we have ample supply, and hopefully, we will be able to give the younger people the first dose sooner.

“There are also small businesses there which do not fall under the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (Pikas).

“We will mobilise mobile vaccination trucks to these small factories so that their staff members can be vaccinated while at work.

“This might help as many of their employees are in their 30s and 40s,” she said.

Dr Norlela said the recent trend in Penang had shown that those who had Covid-19 were in their 30s and 40s, and had yet to receive a single dose.

“We wanted to change that and decided to delay the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine by a week, with the interval now 28 days instead of 21 days.

“With this, more people will get their first dose,” she said.

At the PPV at Pesta site, S. Devi, 59, said she was happy to be fully vaccinated after having her appointment delayed by a week.

“My arm was painful when I received the first dose, but there were no other side effects,” she said.

Architect Tan Yeow Wooi, 61, was glad to receive his second dose of Pfizer.

“I was a little shocked to see the appointment delayed by a week.

“I did register for the vaccine quite late compared to others my age.

“Luckily, there’s no other side effects other than feeling lethargic,” he said.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, in a statement, said he had raised concerns to newly appointed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob over the fight against Covid-19 disease.

One of them is the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, as a lack of vaccine supply needs to be addressed immediately given the high number of cases in the state.

“In fact, the disruption of Pfizer vaccine supply in the second week of August also impacted the operation of the PPV as well as the overall appointments.

“I urge the Federal Govern-ment to increase the current vaccination rate in states outside the Klang Valley.

“We need to improve the medical facilities here as the medical equipment, including the set up of treatment centres should be given special attention.

“This includes the logistical needs of patients as well as medical personnel, food supplies and other related matters,” he said.

Chow also urged the Federal Government to update, simplify and standardise the standard operating procedures.

“This is especially vital for Covid-19 patients who are directed to undergo quarantine at home and Covid-19 Assessment Centres to prevent the spread effectively,” he said.