A TOTAL of 92,186 Orang Asli nationwide – or 64% of the population – have received Covid-19 vaccine jabs as of October 10, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said.

“Four types of vaccines were used – Pfizer, Sinovac, CanSino and AstraZeneca – in the Orang Asli community during the national Covid-19 immunisation programme,” Khairy told the Dewan Negara in a written reply to senator Isa Hamid yesterday.

According to Khairy, the CanSino vaccine was very helpful in increasing the coverage for the programme.

“This is because only a single dose is needed and it makes it easier for the Orang Asli community to get vaccinated,” he said, adding that the ministry has implemented various initiatives to increase awareness in the Orang Asli community.

“We are collaborating with local civil society groups and universities in providing health education materials about vaccination.

“This includes preparation of posters in their dialect, promotion of vaccines through influencers among the Orang Asli community, producing short videos promoting vaccination in their dialect and a video competition through TikTok about the importance and benefits of the vaccine,” Khairy said.

He added there has also been engagement with community leaders, namely Tok Batin and the local Orang Asli community in order to make them understand the importance of vaccine.

Malaysia has inoculated 71.2% of its population after 256,497 vaccine doses were dispensed yesterday.

According to the special committee for ensuring access to Covid-19 vaccine supply, 25.3 million people or 77.4% of the population have now received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The Health Ministry’s CovidNow website tracker projects that 80% of the total population will be vaccinated by December 17. – October 21, 2021.