Bibiana Nguti Krin
KANOWIT (June 14): The walk-in Covid-19 vaccination programme at Nanga Ngungun here has received praise from the local longhouse folk.
The exercise which commenced on Saturday is currently held at a multipurpose hall for longhouse residents in Nanga Ngungun resettlement scheme and its surrounding areas.
One of the vaccine recipients was Bibiana Nguti Krin, 28, from Rumah Siling, Nanga Nirok in Sungai Ngemah who received her first dose yesterday.
“Walk-in method is definitely a better option for rural folk especially in areas where the internet connectivity is poor like in Sungai Ngemah.
“Longhouse residents can turn up at the centre and get vaccinated without waiting for their appointment through MySejahtera or going to the vaccination centre in town.
“Furthermore, with Movement Control Order (MCO) in place, it is difficult for the people to move around,” she said when contacted.
According to Bibiana, she was among the 25 people from her longhouse transported to the vaccination centre using a four-wheel-drive through a cement and gravel road.
The journey took about 20 minutes.
“The driver had to make multiple trips to ensure all 25 of us got vaccinated,” she said.
Bibiana’s cousin Georgiana Lenggu from Rumah Ijau Ekok was among 16 people from her longhouse who opted to use a longboat to get to the vaccination centre.
They started their journey from Nanga Nirok at 9am and reached Nanga Ngungun about 45 minutes later.
“When we came there was already a crowd at the centre.
“The process from registration to getting injected was smooth although it took quite some time.
“But the most important thing is the walk-in method finally ended our wait to get vaccinated against Covid-19,” she said.
Both Bibiana and Georgiana also tried to convince other longhouse residents who still hesitate to take up the vaccine.
They said that the injection was painless.
“I feel mild sore on the injection site after a few hours but it is common according to information I read before.
“Other than that, none of us experience any other side effects after the injection,” Georgiana said.
Bibiana said: “We even joke among ourselves. Since the injection is painless, we can get jabbed five more times.”
Both Bibiana and Georgiana are scheduled to get their second dose on July 3.