KOTA KINABALU: As the daily vaccination rate in Sabah drops below its intended target, authorities have drawn up more outreach programmes to encourage more to come forward for inoculation.
On Aug 19, Sabah dispensed over 60,000 vaccine doses for recipients in the state, expecting to achieve a 60 per cent adult vaccination target by the end of this month and 80 per cent next month.
The Federal government had also committed to send 2.8 million vaccine doses this month to Sabah.
However, in the past two weeks, the average daily vaccination rate was about 40,000 doses despite many centres offering walk-ins for the public.
Sabah's immunisation programme operations director Shahelmey Yahya said while many people from urban and suburban areas voluntarily came forward for vaccination, it is different in the east coast of Sabah.
"We need to increase the outreach programmes to reach those in plantations and remote villages.
"We are intensifying awareness programmes to encourage non-citizens to come for vaccination," he told the New Straits Times.
As of yesterday, 48.6 percent of the adult population in Sabah, or 1,341,609 people, have completed their vaccination.
When asked whether the state government would consider including adolescents in the programme, Shahelmey said it could be done when the state reaches the 80 per cent vaccination rate among adults.