Govt agencies, civil society in Covid-19 immunisation special task force, says Khairy

Photo: Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: The special task force to ensure the success of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (Pick) will comprise government agencies and civil society, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister will head the task force, known as Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF), as coordinating minister.

“The structure of CITF will emphasise on a whole of society approach, which will include all agencies in the Federal government, state governments, local authorities, non-governmental organisations, and volunteers all the way to individuals.

“In order for Pick to be a success, we need the support of every person in the country to ensure that as much as possible will receive the Covid-19 vaccine, so we can overcome this pandemic, ” said Khairy at a press conference Wednesday (Feb 17).

He said CITF's structure placed the Health Ministry (MOH) right at the top, as the main shareholder of the immunisation programme.

“We must ensure that MOH is given the fullest support from the whole of government and the whole of society so that the ministry can focus on its task which is to vaccinate the Malaysian population, ” he said.

Khairy added that CITF would be overseen by a Project Management Team, which would be supervised by two co-directors - Deputy Health Director-General (Public Health) Datuk Dr Chong Chee Keong and Deputy Chief of Army Lt Jen Datuk Mohammad Ab Rahman.

He said MOH, the National Security Council (MKN) and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) would act as the CITF secretariat.

Khairy also said CITF held its first meeting on Feb 16 to lay out the national immunisation programme’s terms of reference, work structure and overall planning.

“During the meeting, the MKN presented papers related to the CITF’s control centre at the national, state and district levels, ” he said.

Uniformed bodies such as the police, armed forces, fire and rescue department and civil defence forces will also be involved in the roll-out of Pick.

For administration purposes, the CITF operations room has been established at Blok F1, Parcel F, Precinct 1 in Putrajaya.

Meanwhile, Khairy said Pakatan Harapan would also be a part of the CITF, particularly in states governed by them.

“In Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang, Pakatan are the state government so the issue of them not being a part of the CITF does not arise.

“I will definitely be dealing with Mentris Besar of Selangor and Negri Sembilan and the Penang Chief Minister, ” he said.