Dr Annuar (right) checks on the outreach programme to vaccinate rural folk in a community hall in Bawang Assan.
SIBU: Sibu is on track to achieving herd immunity against Covid-19 by August this year with 43,789 people out of a targeted 190,000 vaccinated so far, said Divisional Disaster Management Committee (SDDMC) coordinator, Dr Annuar Rapaee.
He said from the 43,789 individuals, a total of 19,345 had completed their first and second Covid-19 vaccine doses, while 24,444 had received their first dose.
“The momentum (for vaccination) is picking up here and like I said, Sibu District is on track to achieve the target of vaccinating 70 per cent of its population,” Dr Annuar, who is Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing, told The Borneo Post today.
To ensure the target is achieved, he said the vaccination programme here would be further strengthened.
On this, the Nangka assemblyman said a vaccination centre (PPV) for the industries will be established for workers and their families.
Additionally, mobile teams from the Health Department will be increased for the outreach programme to vaccinate rural folk, he disclosed.
“At the same time, we will enlist the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) and ‘Tuai Rumah’ to be involved directly in the vaccination programme for villages and longhouses.
“We will also increase the number of PPV in Sibu, where Sibu Civic Centre is also the proposed venue as we want to vaccinate as many people as possible, as fast as possible and as soon as possible, to achieve herd immunity faster.
“The PPV in army camps in Sibu will also be opened up to members of the public and (their medical personnel) will also be involved in mobile teams,” said Dr Annuar on measures to further strengthen the vaccination programme here.
Currently, the PPV in Sibu Indoor Stadium is capable of vaccinating between 1,600 and 2,000 individuals daily, while that in Sibujaya, can vaccinate between 600 and 800 people daily, he said.
Lanang and Sibujaya Health clinics are capable of vaccinating 200 people each on weekends, he revealed.
Meanwhile, Sibu recorded 63 Covid-19 cases yesterday.
From this number, 44 cases came from the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) area, while Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) area had 19 cases.