GEORGE TOWN: Penang has added another 26 private facilities to the existing Covid-19 vaccination centres which can administer booster shots.Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the new facilities would complement the existing 47 locations.
He said the state Health Department had also received two applications to set up a Health Care Organisation booster dose injection centre in a larger hall with the capacity to administer more than 1,000 injections per day.
“Various agencies will work together to increase public confidence in getting their booster shots.
“Focus will also be given to those who do not show up for their second vaccination dose, including those who were left out,” he said in a statement recently.
According to the Penang Health Department, a total of 23,129 individuals have received their booster jabs as of Nov 11.
However, it was recently reported that as many as 40% of recipients eligible for their booster dose did not turn up for their appointments after being notified through the MySejahtera application.
Penang health committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said the administering of the booster dose for front line workers and senior citizens should be sped up to better protect them from Covid-19.
She said she had proposed vaccination outreach programmes to all 145 old folk homes in the state as there had been clusters at some homes earlier.
“The state Health Department’s priority is to administer booster jabs to senior citizens who have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.“But some of them refused to receive a different brand of vaccine for their booster shots after hearing stories of negative effects,” she added.
Norlela said she had proposed that outreach programmes be conducted at both city councils’ buildings to speed up the booster shot vaccination process for their employees.
“Both city council mayors have also urged that the administering of booster shots for the frontliners, be sped up,” she said.
According to CovidNow, a total of 29,738 individuals in Penang had received their booster shots as of yesterday.
