THE Covid-19 vaccination centre (PPV) at Hotel Equatorial Penang is now open to boost vaccinations involving the industrial and manufacturing sectors.
The hotel is believed to be the first hotel which is used as a PPV in the country.
The former five-star hotel had shut down since March 31 due to the Covid-19 situation. The hotel, which is located in Bukit Jambul, had operated for more than three decades before it decided to close.
Currently, there are two special PPVs which cater for the economic frontliners under the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (Pikas) – Bukit Jawi Golf Resort and Hotel Equatorial Penang.
Hotel general manager Alan Ong said the hotel was honoured to be able to contribute to the recovery of the nation and the state.
“We thank the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) and Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow for the opportunity.
“Our facility was officially open at 9am this morning. We are targeting 480 doses of vaccines to be administered today.
“The number of doses will build up to 1,500 doses per day.
“We will do our best for the Penangites,” he said.
Penang Medical Practitioners’ Society (PMPS) president Dr Parmjit Singh said he had about 100 doctors who were helping out in the effort.
“About 18 to 20 doctors are utilised today.
“We hope that Penang will have more PPVs on both Penang island and the mainland so that we can utilise all the doctors to get more people vaccinated,” Dr Parmjit said.
Chow said the state had been reassured that the Covid-19 vaccine supplies could be doubled in every state in July.
“This can help the states achieve their vaccination target under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).
“We are also waiting for Miti and Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) to approve and start four on-site PPVs. They are Intel Technology Sdn Bhd, Jabil Circuit Sdn Bhd, Plexus Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Inari Amertron Berhad.
“The four on-site PPVs have a total capacity of delivering 5,000 vaccine doses per day.
“We understand that there are more PPVs which had being identified for the economic frontliners but have yet to receive the approvals (at the Federal level).
“It will be a tremendous boost to our capacity to vaccinate the people when more PPVs are being set up.
“I believe the approvals will be granted soon,” Chow said.
He also said that 19 private clinics in Penang had been assisting in the vaccination effort.
“In short, our current capacity (on paper), is about 26,000 doses per day,” he said.
Chow thanked Hotel Equatorial Penang and PMPS for collaborating with the Government in running the PPV (at Hotel Equatorial Penang) for the economic sector.
“We would like to thank all the collaborative partners for making this possible.
“The state government will continue to facilitate, and work together with various state and Federal agencies, public and private healthcare practitioners, and non-governmental organisations to make the NIP in Penang a success,” he added.
Among those present were State Secretary Datuk Abdul Razak Jaafar, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Chow’s political secretary Teh Lai Heng, and Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekeran.
Earlier, Chow visited the PPV centre at Optimax Eye Specialist Hospital in Jalan Masjid Negeri.
He revealed that Bagan Specialist Centre on mainland had been given the nod to operate as a PPV.
“The private hospital joins seven other private hospitals in Penang, which had already begun vaccinating the people.
“The Bagan Specialist Centre is scheduled to begin its PPV operation soon.
“The other private hospitals are the Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre, Pantai Hospital Penang, KPJ Penang Specialist Hospital, Penang Adventist Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital and Optimax Eye Specialist Hospital.
He expressed his gratitude to Optimax Eye Specialist Hospital for assisting the state.
“I will continue to visit the PPVs in Penang to identify any shortcomings. If there are any, we will highlight them in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) meetings,” he said.
Optimax Holdings Berhad Non-Independent Non-Executive director Tan Sri Datuk Tan Boon Hock said the Optimax in Taman Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur; Ipoh; Penang; and Seremban were currently operating as PPVs.
Also present were Yeoh, Teh, Abdul Razak, and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor Nicholas Theng.
Story by Christopher Tan and Edmund Lee
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Chan Kok Kuan and Law Suun Ting