Datuk Sebastian Ting
MIRI (June 7): Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting hopes more vaccination centres (PPVs) will be set up to cater to the expected surge in vaccinations in view of the expected arrival of more Covid-19 vaccines in Miri this month and in July.
He said recent discussions with Miri mayor Adam Yii and others centred on the availability of venues that could be converted into PPVs, with several schools fitting the requirement.
“We are given to understand that private medical centres such as Borneo Medical Centre and Columbia Asia as well as a few private clinics have been appointed as PPVs.
“Some may have space constraint and thus may only be able to vaccinate a certain number of people at any one time per day. However, if an arrangement can be made for these private practices to utilise these schools’ spaces, these PPVs could increase their capacity,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said the current vaccination rate in the division is still low – estimated at fewer than 2,000 persons daily – which could be due to the inadequate or slow arrival of vaccines.
“At the population of 200,000 people here, to achieve at least 75 per cent herd immunity by the end of August, it would take about 100 days to complete the vaccination rollout.
“Therefore, we may need to have between 8,000 and 10,000 people to be vaccinated per day.”
Ting also noted that it was equally crucial to increase human resources, hence the need to engage retired doctors, nurses and others to help speed up the vaccination rollout.
He also proposed that Miri emulate the method used in China where public buses were utilised as mobile vaccination centres.
Meanwhile, the Piasau assemblyman said he backed the state’s government’s move to use a hybrid approach to better facilitate the registration of rural Sarawakians for the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
However, he suggested that the method also be used in urban areas especially for senior citizens in view that many of them do not own smartphones.
“We have heard of numerous complaints about Mysejahtera during this registration and subsequent notifications of dates and places of vaccinations of recipients.
“Some of our Miri people have their stories to tell. Indeed, Mysejahtera is far from perfect and there are many weaknesses.
“We must aim to provide fast and easy vaccination to our Miri people as soon as possible. Miri people cannot wait any longer. Time is of the essence,” he said.