(Third row, from fourth right) Khairuddin, Tai, Ting and others posing for the camera at UCTS campus.
SIBU (July 5): The industrial vaccination centre (PPVIN) housed at the University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) campus has vaccinated about 14,000 people since it began operations on June 28, said Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting.
He said that this was done in a span of seven days, adding that these recipients will receive their second dose on July 19.
The second phase of the programme, involving some 3,687 people, will commence this Thursday.
For the record, PPVIN is to cater for employees of the industries.
“I just want to say that through the hard work of Pansar group led by Pemanca Datuk Jason Tai, the PPVIN was set up within a short notice. I would also like to thank UCTS for the use of their nice campus to carry out this exercise.
“I think the first discussion of PPVIN was around mid-June. After seven days (from the start of programme on June 28), about 14,000 people have been successfully vaccinated (with the first dose),” Ting told reporters when met at UCTS tonight.
He also hoped that the number of Covid-19 cases will continue to decline, adding that Sibu today recorded 32 new cases.
Meanwhile, Tai, who is Pansar Berhad managing director, disclosed that they had received approval from the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) Sarawak to allow them to conduct vaccinations around Sibu for companies under PPVIN having plantations.
“We are still gathering the number and will get ProtectHealth Corporation’s approval for the vaccination especially for plantations across the river.
“It is on a mobile basis where we will go to them to carry out the exercise,” he explained, adding that the exercise is expected to commence next week.
On the second phase of the programme, Tai said it will start this Thursday once given greenlight by ProtectHealth.
“(Once approved) they will upload to MySejahtera (for the appointment to be set) and we can start phase two on Thursday for the 3,687 people.
“It will be for two days – Thursday and Friday,” he informed.
UCTS vice chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid was elated to note of the good response from the industry.
“The companies are very responsive and give full support by sending their employees for vaccination. As for as the operations is concerned, everything is smooth here,” he said.
Khairuddin said on average, slightly more than 2,000 people were vaccinated daily and hoped for more people to be vaccinated in Sibu and Sarawak.
“That is why we can see Sibu and Sarawak are ranked among the top in term of the number of people vaccinated.
“We hope to see the number of positive Covid-19 cases decline dramatically,” he said.
The PPV is held in collaboration with Pansar Berhad, UCTS, and Segi University Sibu Clinical Campus.