Surging towards capacity: 97% of Klang Valley dwellers have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, says KJ

PETALING JAYA: Almost everyone in the Klang Valley eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine has received at least one dose through Operation Surge Capacity, which ended on Sunday (Aug 1).

According to data from the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF), 96.7% of the adult population have received at least one dose of the vaccine, with 37.5% fully vaccinated.

National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin said a total of 1,655,217 appointments for vaccination were given out between July 26 and Aug 1.

“The operation was a success. We will vaccinate the remaining 3% within the first week of August, either at specified vaccination centres (PPV) or via walk-ins at stipulated PPVs.

“They are probably those who cancelled or could not make it to their earlier appointment,” Khairy told the weekly CITF joint press conference on Monday (Aug 2).

On July 16, the CITF announced Operation Surge Capacity which was aimed at vaccinating all adult residents of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor by Aug 1.

Khairy said the target was for 6.1 million adults in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor to have at least one vaccination dose by that date.

Following the end of the operation, Khairy said the task force would now focus on efforts to “mop up” the outliers and get those who have not registered or cancelled their appointment vaccinated.

“The mop-up in the Klang Valley will be done through two ways - walk-in at the stipulated PPVs or through the scheduled mobile outreach programme at outskirt areas.

“Other than focusing on senior citizens and those with comorbidities, we also separate vaccinations for citizens and foreigners for better crowd control, based on experience at several PPVs in the last week,” he said.

Khairy said the task force would next focus on vaccine distribution to all states nationwide according to two criteria - pandemic control and vaccination rate among the people.

“We will send vaccines to states that see an increase in positive cases, and also states with low vaccination rates, just like how we did for Labuan and the Klang Valley earlier.

“This is so that by August they can catch up with other states, with the ultimate aim that all states will have at least 40% of the adult populations receiving two doses of the vaccine by Merdeka Day,” he said, adding that this method will help all states rebalance their vaccination rates.

Khairy reminded the public that walk-in vaccinations at the nine PPVs in the Klang Valley are only meant for those who live here.

“This is based on the target and the need to protect the residents who are at the epicentre of the pandemic now.

“This initiative is limited to the administration of the first dose. Those who are getting their second dose will get it according to the stipulated gap (for each vaccine)," he said.

From Monday, Malaysians aged 40 and above and locals with comorbidities can get their jabs at any of the PPVs involved until Wednesday (Aug 4).

From Thursday (Aug 5) to Aug 22, the walk-in exercise will be expanded to all Malaysians aged above 18 in the Klang Valley.

Foreigners are also divided into the two same categories and can get their jabs from Aug 9-11 and Aug 12-22.