WITH 67% of Sarawak’s 2.2 million population already vaccinated and more than 82,000 jabs carried out every day, the state is on course to inoculate its inhabitants by the end of August, Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah said today.

Uggah, who is also chairman of the state disaster management committee, said that as of yesterday, 609,248 people or 27% of Sarawakians have completed the two doses.

“Yesterday, was one of our top days with 82, 068 people vaccinated,” he added.

Uuggah said 29,691 had their first shot and 52,377 their second.

“At the rate we are going now, we should be able to achieve our target,” he told reporters after visiting a remote vaccination delivery centre at Kpg Bra’ang Bayur health clinic in Padawan, 35km from Kuching.

Uggah also said – despite no sign of the promised Chinese CanSino vaccine, which Sarawak had planned to administer to its rural populace – the state will press ahead with its rural vaccination drive with any available vaccine.

“We were promised (deliveries would come) in July. Now it is already July and we are still waiting. Whatever it is, we will continue with our programme.”

Uggah said the state had planned to use the CanSino to cut costs and time due to the logistical challenge of getting around rural areas.

Meanwhile, the state has received deliveries of Pfizer-Biotech, AstraZeneca and SinoVac vaccines.

Uggah said he had rejected the state health department’s proposal to delay the vaccination of 302 people in four remote villages in Padawan until CanSino is delivered.

The four villages can only be reached by air or river.

“We are not waiting for the CanSino. They (the 302 villagers) will be vaccinated this weekend.” – July 13, 2021.