KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP) is giving special attention to Sabah, Kelantan, Kedah, Johor, Perak, Terengganu and Pahang as the vaccination rate recorded in these states is below 55 per cent.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said the decision was made during the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) meeting which he co-chaired with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
"Through a whole-of-government approach, CITF will emphasise on increasing the outreach programmes in these states with the cooperation of various parties including the armed forces by utilising their relevant assets to ensure people living in remote areas can get the Covid-19 vaccines," he said in a statement today.
Dr Adham said 17 experienced organisations had been authorised to operate mobile vaccination centres (PPVs) under NIP, adding that the states should liaise directly with these organisations to help them in boosting the vaccination rate among the people.
He said drive-through and walk-in vaccination initiatives would also be intensified and expanded to further ramp up the country's vaccination exercise.
The minister also urged the states that needed to increase their vaccination capacity to open more drive-through PPVs.
On walk-in vaccinations, Dr Adham said the matter would be updated from time to time, adding that the public could check on the updates with the respective state health departments.
He also said the meeting had even agreed that at least 10 per cent of the vaccine supplies distributed to the states should be allocated to the industrial vaccination centres.
This, he said, would be in line with the decision made by the National Security Council to intensify efforts to inoculate local and foreign workers. – Bernama