Covid-19: Sabah govt allows companies, industries to buy vaccines for workers, says Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has allowed all companies and industries to purchase Covid-19 vaccines directly for their own workers, says Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

The state Local Government and Housing Minister said they are permitted to buy supplies of either Pfizer, Sinovac or AstraZeneca vaccines, and carry out immunisation for workers at their own premises, which are turned into temporary vaccine administration centres (PPVs).

"The State Health Department meanwhile will assist in handling private clinics that will conduct the immunisation programme at the respective premises or plantations," he said in a statement on Friday (July 30).

Masidi, who is state Covid-19 spokesman, said this in the midst of growing concerns of Sabah's vaccination rate, which is slow compared to the rest of the country.

Sabah aims to achieve a vaccination rate of 60% of the targeted population by October, while the target for herd immunity is by year-end.

Masidi also said two new clusters were reported on Friday, namely the Batu Dua cluster in Tawau district, and the Gunsapau-Ranau cluster in Kota Marudu district.

Sabah breached the 1,000 mark of new cases today, registering 1,066 cases, up from 776 recorded yesterday.