THE government could relax the restrictions on interstate travel as early as tomorrow or Tuesday, as about 21 million or 89.7% of the grown-ups were fully inoculated as of yesterday.

The country is now just 0.3% away from reaching its landmark adult vaccination rate of 90%.

According to the Health Ministry’s CovidNow website, 141,897 vaccine shots were administered yesterday as part of the national Covid-19 immunisation programme.

Of that figure, some 39,183 people received their first doses, while 102,741 people completed their second shots.

A total of 45,521,196 doses of vaccines have been administered since the programme was rolled out on February 24 this year.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said interstate travel would be allowed when 90% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

Initially, the CovidNow website tracker projected that 100% of the adult population would be fully vaccinated by October 26. However, the new projected date is moved back to March 1, 2022, which is 142 days away.

No reason was given for the extension on the projected date.

Meanwhile, 71.5%, or about 2 million adolescents between the age of 12 and 17, have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 6.5% or 204,536 are fully vaccinated.

The ministry’s CovidNow website tracker projected that 80% of adolescents will be fully vaccinated by November 3.

This age group is receiving the Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines.

Meanwhile, taking the vaccination rate for the country’s total population, 74.8% of the general population have been partially vaccinated and 64.9% fully vaccinated.

The Klang Valley has the highest vaccination rate, with 82.2% of its general population and 112.1% of its adult population inoculated.

When an area records a vaccination rate of more than 100%, it means that the changes in the population size have yet to be accounted for by the Statistics Department since the last census was conducted. This also includes undocumented residents.

Sabah has the lowest vaccination rate. It is the only state to have vaccinated fewer than 70% of its adult population, at 64.6%. Only 47.4% of its general population have been inoculated. – October 10, 2021.