Dr Mohamed Sapian (left) speaking to the press, accompanied by Dr Sim (his left) and others. – Photos by Rosytein Emmor
KUCHING (July 4): Sarawak is currently aiming to carry out between 60,000 and 65,000 Covid-19 vaccinations per day, said newly appointed state health director Dato Dr Mohamed Sapian Mohamed.
He said this is to ensure that the state achieves herd immunity by the second week of August.
Previously, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s announced on June 16 that Sarawak hoped to accelerate the pace of its vaccination porgramme by administering 50,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine daily.
“In Sarawak, we have already administered 1.5 million doses and the entire state has an adult population of about 2.2 million. Currently, 10 per cent of the adult population had been fully vaccinated or injected with two doses,” said Dr Mohamed Sapian when met at SJK (C) Chung Hua Pending here for a vaccination drive under Tanah Putih health clinic.
He thanked the State Disaster Management Committee, state government volunteers and medical professionals such as nurses and doctors who had come out of retirement to support the state’s ambitious vaccination drive.
“We have two main tasks right now, with one of it being focused on the vaccination drive and another on contact tracing for positive Covid-19 cases.”
He said staff assigned to vaccination centres will be relocated for Covid-19 prevention activities once most of the population has been vaccinated.
“I hope the people in Sarawak will continue to observe the standard operating procedures (SOP) even after being vaccinated to avoid any further outbreak in the state.”
Dr Mohamed Sapian remarked there are sufficient personnel from the Ministry of Health to handle the vaccination campaign and other Covid-19 related tasks, especially with the support provided by volunteers and staff from other government agencies.
He also pointed out that there are currently about 285 vaccination centres across the state, not including the mobile vaccination units.
Among those present at the vaccination drive was state Minister of Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and Kuching South mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.