THE National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme is giving special attention to Sabah, Kelantan, Kedah, Johor, Perak, Terengganu and Pahang as the vaccination rate in each state is below 55%, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Adham Baba.

He said the decision was made during the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) meeting, which he co-chaired with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

“Through a whole of government approach, CITF will emphasise on increasing the number of outreach programmes in these states with the cooperation of various parties including the Malaysian Armed Forces by utilising relevant assets to ensure people living in remote areas get the Covid-19 vaccines,” he said in a statement today.

Adham said permission has been granted to 17 experienced organisations to operate mobile vaccination centres under the programme, adding that the states should liaise directly with these organisations to help them increase the vaccination rate among the people.

He said drive-through and walk-in vaccination initiatives would also be intensified and expanded to drive the country’s vaccination exercise.

He also urged the states that needed to increase their vaccination capacity to open more drive-through centres.

On the walk-in vaccination initiative, Adham said the matter would be updated from time to time, adding that the public could check on the updates with the respective state health departments.

Meanwhile, he said the meeting had also agreed that at least 10% of the total vaccine supplies distributed to the states should be allocated to industrial vaccination centres.

He said it was in line with the decision made by the National Security Council to intensify efforts to vaccinate local and foreign workers. – Bernama, September 3, 2021.