IPOH: There are no issues of state “VIPs” jumping the queue to get their Covid-19 vaccinations during the first phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation programme in Perak.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad (pic) said it has been decided earlier that only he and the 10 state executive council members would be among the 39,760 frontliners that would be taking the vaccine during the first phase of the programme.
“In Perak, we have a schedule. Aside from the Mentri Besar and the state exco members, there are still 210 others taking the vaccine today. I think it’s fair enough, ” he told a press conference after getting his dose at the Indera Mulia Stadium here on Monday (March 1).
Saarani was asked to comment on Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s tweet Sunday (Feb 28) that some states want all exco members to be given the vaccine in one shot, which he said was “not good”.
This was in response to Twitter user Dr Rafidah Abdullah, who said that she had received many messages on queue jumping for the vaccine.
Under the first phase of the programme, elected representatives are also included, to which Khairy, who is the coordinating minister for the immunisation programme, said they should take the vaccine in stages.
Saarani also said what Khairy tweeted was not an instruction.
“There are several views. Some say it is better to give the people first then only the leaders. We have suggested it before that but some commented and felt that they were being made test subjects for the leaders, ” he said.
“Now we say we give to leaders first, to instil confidence and an example to the people but there are still grouses.
“Whatever we decide, it gives room for people to have different interpretations.
“The people should not worry and just follow what has been decided by the government. Of course, we want the best for the people, ” he added.
