THE Government has appointed Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin as the Minister of National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme to coordinate the nationwide inoculation exercise, once the first batch of vaccines arrives this month.
“Khairy will be leading a task force to ensure the National COVID-19 Immunisation programme runs smoothly, in terms of logistics and coordinating with states and other Government agencies.
“This will ensure that the Health Ministry focuses its attention on curbing the spread of the virus, which is still at a worrying trend,” said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in a live telecast today.
On the vaccines, Muhyddin said that the Government had purchased them from Pfizer and BioNTech, which had showed 95% efficacy and vaccination programme will start by end of the month.
“We target 80% of the population, or 26.5 million Malaysians, will receive the vaccines for free and it will be done in three phases,” he said.
Elaborating, the Prime Minister said the first phase of inoculation will involve the 500,000 frontliners, medical officers and non-medical personnel.
He added that it was important to prioritise the frontliners as they are at the forefront in dealing with the pandemic. The first phase is scheduled to end in April.
“The second phase involves high-risk groups such as senior citizens, those above 60 years of age, those who suffer from pre-existing medical conditions and the disabled community.
“About 9.4 million people will receive vaccination from the second phase, which will start from April until August,” Muhyiddin stated.
Nation’s biggest vaccination programme
As for the third phase, which start from May until February 2021, it will involve all those above the age of 18, adding it was an important measure to create herd immunity and contain the pandemic holistically.
To ensure the national vaccination programme goes smoothly, Muhyiddin said the Government would open more than 600 vaccine storage areas, which will also serve as vaccination centres, across the nation.
“I have instructed the authorities to utlitise all premises available, including public and private health facilities, stadium, convention centres, community halls and universities for this purpose.
“We will invoke the Emergency Ordinance (Special Powers) 2021 to acquire the premises temporarily for the National COVID-19 Vaccination programme, which is the biggest vaccination programme in our nation’s history.
“With that, I also welcome volunteers from across the nation to help us in this massive endevour. More details on the programme will be given soon,” he added.
On related matter, Muhyiddin said that the Federal Government would be working with all state governments on the vaccination programme.
“With that, I will be inviting all Menteri Besars and Chief Ministers to attend the National Security Council (NSC) COVID-19 special meetings, which will be held three times a week.
“At the state level, the Menteri Besars and Chief Ministers will chair meetings with their respective state authorities to deal with the pandemic effectively.
“I want to make sure everyone understands that we’re all in this together, to protect people’s lives and livelihoods,” the Pagoh MP stressed. – Feb 4, 2021.
