GEORGE TOWN: Penang today received more than 40,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to ramp up the ongoing vaccination process.
The 43,120 doses of Sinovac vaccines were part of 200,000 doses assured by the federal government to the state recently.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who witnessed the handover of 3,200 doses of vaccine to the Bayan Baru Health Clinic here, hoped that with the arrival of the vaccine doses, vaccination centres (PPVs) in the state would operate more efficiently to speed up the inoculation rate.
"It is our aim to ensure 100 per cent of our adult population received at least one dose of the vaccine this month, then we can focus on hitting the same target for the second dose. We are expecting 60 per cent of our adult population to be fully vaccinated within the next two days.
"The people must be vaccinated as soon as possible as this is the most important form of protection in the fight against Covid-19.
"On behalf of the state government, I would like to extend my appreciation to the Health Ministry for expediting the delivery of vaccines to Penang as promised," he said during a brief press conference at the Bayan Baru Health Clinic.
Present were state Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin, state Health Department director Dr Ma'arof Sudin and state Health Department deputy director (Public Health) Dr Rafidah Md Noor.
There are currently 17 Covid-19 vaccine storage centres (PSVs) designated for Sinovac only, and the Bayan Baru Health Clinic is one of them.
The vaccines stored here will be delivered to PPVs within the southwest district on the island.
Dr Ma'arof also thanked the federal government for working with the state government to ensure the smooth delivery of the vaccine doses.
"With the supplies coming in now, we hope to increase the vaccine coverage for the people of Penang," he added.
Meanwhile, Norlela said since the Covid-19 emergency care line was set up last month, it had received 145 calls (127 on the island and 18 on the mainland) from Covid-19 patients who were on home quarantine.
"We have so far sent 64 high-risk transport vehicles and 17 ambulances, as well as emergency physicians to conduct assessments on patients with the need for immediate attention.
"This is to support the state Health Department to speed up the response time and reduce the number of deaths of patients under Categories One and Two," she added.
Norlela said she had also proposed to the National Covid-19 Immunisation Special Task Force (CITF) to provide Penang with more medical and non-medical personnel to support the healthcare system in the state.