APATHY has slowed Sarawak’s Covid-19 vaccination booster drive, which has the state authorities worried about the impact of the Omicron virus variant on the people.

State disaster management committee chairman Douglas Uggah, who is the deputy premier, said 208,486 Sarawak residents who were eligible for a booster shot had yet to come forward for it

“To them, I would like to say this: Do not dilly-dally and do not dice with death, especially the elderly with comorbidities,” he said.

“If you have relatives and friends yet to receive the booster dose, please advise them to get one immediately,” he said.

Uggah said there was ample proof a booster dose provided protection against Omicron.

As of yesterday, the virus has infected 285,748 people and killed 1,652 in Sarawak.

Three virus-linked deaths were reported yesterday. All were in their 70s and 80s with serious health issues.

State Health Department director Dr Ooi Choo Huck told The Malaysian Insight the residents who have not been boosted shots were not anti-vaccine.

“We do not face any issue regarding anti-vaxxers so far.”

Ooi said data showed Sarawak had a high acceptance rate for the booster dose and that the state had one of the highest vaccination rates. 

Uggah said 80.4% of Sarawak’s adults have had their booster shot.

He said 80.9% of people in the high-risk categories – those with comorbidities, healthcare workers, the elderly and Sinovac vaccine recipients – have had their booster shots.

The CovidNow website on March 17) showed that 1,030 booster shots were administered daily in Sarawak and that more than 1.5 million resident have had one.

Ooi said health officials were able to reach the people living in the remote areas via mobile health services. – March 22, 2022.