Covid-19: Close to 10,000 will receive vaccine today under phase two of immunisation plan

PETALING JAYA: More than 9,000 senior citizens, the disabled and those with comorbidities are scheduled to receive the vaccine on Monday (April 19) as the country kicks off the second phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

Coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin said 9,916 people are scheduled to receive the vaccine on the first day of the programme today.

Khairy noted that the Dewan 2020 hall in Perlis will see the largest group being vaccinated, with a total of 924 recipients.

He added that the second phase in Selangor will only start on April 26 as the state is still completing vaccinations for those under phase one.

“States such as Selangor are still vaccinating the frontliners. We have a little bit of backlog there. When this is complete then we can start the second phase, ” he told a press conference.

Khairy said phase one of the vaccination is still ongoing with 258,783 frontliners to be vaccinated, with the majority waiting for their second dose.

He also noted that 1,438,974 senior citizens above age 60 have registered for the vaccine, while 136,798 disabled people, and 2,029,297 persons with comorbidities have signed up.

He also said that phase two will see 30 non-medical vaccination centres opened in Kedah, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perlis, Terengganu, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

“This is to complement the current 600 centres, ” he said, adding that these additional centres consist of public halls, among other facilities.

Khairy, who is also Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, said 888 people are expected to receive the vaccine in 14 public hospitals that have been designated as special centres in seven states.

“They are from four categories: those who have a history of allergies and are able to take the vaccine; immunocompromised patients; those who are at risk of bleeding due to certain diseases or are taking specific medications; and those deemed suitable to be vaccinated such as chronic patients, haemodialysis patients, pregnant women, and psychiatric patients, ” he said.