Dennis (third right) gives the thumb up to staff at Long San clinic.
MIRI (June 14): A total of 150 individuals kick-started the National Immunisation Programme at two vaccination centres (PPV) in Telang Usan constituency on Saturday (June 12).
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau told The Borneo Post that 50 received their first shots at Long Bedian health clinic and another 100 at Long San clinic.
“Despite the daunting task and numerous challenges faced by all parties to disseminate the right information on the importance to be vaccinated to rural folks of Ulu Baram, seeing the positive response on the first day of the vaccination at Long San Clinic was a big relief,” he said.
Dennis who went to Long San clinic to see if the programme was running smoothly did not expect the good turnout as the clinic had only a maximum of 100 doses of Sinovac vaccine yesterday.
“There were many negative comments and messages passed in social media about the side effect of the vaccines which in a way had caused fear among the people especially rural folks. However, I am very pleased to see so many getting vaccinated smoothly yesterday,” he said.
He pointed out that Telang Usan is playing its part to help the government achieve herd immunity and communities in Baram have been making numerous requests through their people’s representative for the state and federal government to use rural clinics near their villages as PPV. Previously, only Long Lama clinic was selected as PPV for Telang Usan constituency.
“The cost for these rural people to travel from their longhouses to Long Lama clinic for their vaccination can go up to RM300 per person which could discourage them from getting vaccinated. With these two additional PPVs, we hope the people would play their part by getting vaccinated,” added Dennis.