A TOTAL of 84,541 people have received their booster dose in Penang as of yesterday, says state Agrotech and Food Security, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin.
Norlela added that from tomorrow, Sinovac would be available in Penang as boosters besides Pfizer vaccine.
“We have over 200,000 Sinovac doses that are open to those who don’t want to take the Pfizer vaccine as the booster dose from December,” Norlela said when responding to an oral question by Gooi Hsiao Leung (PH-Bukit Tengah) at the State Legislative Assembly today.
She said the state Health Department is currently working closely with the ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd (ProtectHealth), which is under the Health Ministry, to increase the number of private facilities to administer the booster shots.
“As of Nov 24, there are a total of 86 private clinics, eight private hospitals and three off-site Covid-19 vaccination centres (PPVs) involved in administering the booster shots in the state.
“At the moment, the Pfizer vaccine is given as the booster dose but from next month onwards, Sinovac will also be available,’’ Norlela said while adding that the Health Ministry has also approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for booster shots.
Norlela said those who would like to register for the booster shot can directly contact the participating facilities via https://protecthealth.com.my/vaksin-covid/.
“This is open to recipients who are above 40 years old, senior citizens and those 18 years old with comorbidity as well as the frontliners.
“Thus far, we have a total of 503,459 individuals listed for the booster shots. And those who have not been vaccinated yet can also contact the concerned facilities to receive their vaccines.
“This also includes vaccine recipients who have missed their appointment for their second dose perhaps due to quarantine,’’ she added.
Apart from that, Norlela also called on fellow assemblymen in Penang to lend a hand in accelerating the booster shot administration by finding suitable venues to administer the third dose.
“Penang is positioned among the bottom five when it comes to administration of booster dose even though we have increased the supply.
“So, if the assemblymen could help us to find venues such as the community halls, in their respective constituencies with a reduced fee, then we could speed up the process.
“Currently, the clinics can only administer 20 to 30 doses daily.
“And ProtectHealth only bears the cost for the medical practitioners to inoculate the recipients.
“Penang had mega PPVs which could cater to large number of vaccine recipients but now these PPVs have ended their operation following the instruction by the Federal Government,” Norlela added.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter