THE Covid-19 vaccination outreach programme in Kinabatangan needs to be intensified, as it has one of the lowest immunisation rates in Sabah, said the state Community Development and People’s Well-being Minister Shahelmy Yahya.

He said the vast interior and oil palm plantations, as well as having only one vaccination centre, were among the main factors causing Kinabatangan to record only 24% of adults completing the vaccination.

Shahelmy, who is also the state immunisation programme operations director, said that the wide expanse of the district also posed difficulties for its residents to attend its solitary vaccination centre at the Datu Paduka Mat Salleh Seminar Hall in Kinabatangan.

“We also hope that the community can co-operate, especially those living on oil palm plantations, so that the Covid-19 immunisation task force can mobilise the team for vaccinations,” he said.

He added that Kinabatangan has about 148,600 residents, who are mostly foreigners, working in 300 oil palm plantations.

Meanwhile, Kinabatangan district health officer Dr Maini Sabait said thus far about 100 oil palm plantations and several remote villages had been visited for the vaccination process.

Maini added that the vaccination centre in Kinabatangan is also accepting walk-in vaccinations and administers 1,000 doses of vaccine a day. – Bernama, September 8, 2021.