Covid-19 vaccination programme to be expanded to include retail, plantation sectors, says Khairy

SEPANG: The Covid-19 vaccination programme for industries will be expanded to include more sectors including plantation and retail, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme coordinating minister said to date, 27 industry PPVs (vaccination centres) have been set up nationwide.

"For now, the ministries involved in the Covid-19 vaccination programme for the economic sector are the International Trade and Industry Ministry, Works Ministry and Transport Ministry.

"The CITF (Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force) has also received requests from the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry (MPIC) and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP).

"MPIC is looking to vaccinate those in the plantation industry while KPDNHEP wants it for the retail sector.

"We (CITF) will make a decision soon on the expansion of the sectors and the number of vaccine doses to be distributed," said Khairy at a press conference during his visit to the vaccination programme for aviation workers at KLIA here.

Khairy said the vaccination programme for the aviation sector involves 22,243 frontline workers, which constitutes 43% of the workforce at KLIA.

The KLIA PPV started on July 5 and has the capacity to vaccinate 1,000 people a day.

"We are also looking to vaccinate workers at other airports in the country to ensure that more in the aviation sector receive protection with Covid-19 vaccines," said Khairy.

On the issue of international travel vaccine policies, Khairy reiterated Malaysia's stance that all vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) should be recognised by countries.

"Saudi Arabia, Singapore, China, Britain and the United States are among countries that are popular destinations for Malaysian travellers, be it for holiday or business.

"So there needs to be a clear policy that is agreed by all. Malaysia is a country that immunises its people with various vaccines.

"But some countries recognise only certain vaccines.

"This creates confusion if there is no clear policy.

"So Malaysia's stance is that as long as a vaccine is approved by the WHO, it should be recognised. Plus, you can't expect people to be vaccinated many times," said Khairy.

Recently, the European Union announced that it only recognises travellers that are fully inoculated with vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).