KUALA LUMPUR: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador today expressed hope that half of the police force would be vaccinated against Covid-19 under the first phase of the National Immunisation Programme (NIP).
He referred to those working on the ground in various Covid-19-related operations nationwide amid the pandemic.
"So far, there is a list of 27,000 officers and staff from five states who are qualified to be inoculated (under the first phase).
"We are waiting for the names from nine other states where the respective health authorities will decide on the number of policemen to be vaccinated," he said after receiving the first of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic in Jalan Temerloh, here.
Hamid is scheduled to get the second dose on March 23.
He said he was aware of certain quarters within the force which had expressed doubts over the vaccine and its effectiveness, adding that he hoped his having taken the vaccine would instil confidence in his men to do the same without any hesitation to protect themselves against the virus.
"With me taking it (the vaccine), it proves that there should be no doubt. InsyaAllah, nothing out of the ordinary will happen and the act of believing information from unverified sources must stop.
"Heed the advice and views of the Health Ministry and their medical experts. The vaccination process carried out by the Health Ministry is simple.
"The healthcare staff are professional and it is painless. So, there is no need to be afraid and do not miss the appointment given by the ministry," he said.
Hamid also warned that the authorities would take action under the Sedition Act against those who disseminated false information about the vaccine and tried to put fear into or influence people against getting immunised.
Others who received their vaccination at the Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic today were federal Management Department director Datuk Ramli Din, Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director Datuk Zainal Abidin Kasim and Logistics and Technology Department director Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim.