PENANG will be organising the mobile community vaccination (Movak) programme for four days at all five districts in the state.
The programme, under the local government unit, will be targeting public hawkers and traders who are registered with the local governments.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the programme was expected to draw some 12,000 people throughout the four days, beginning Aug 30.
“Ten modified buses will be used to ensure smooth operation of the Movak Covid-19 vaccination programme.
“We have identified five locations (one in each district) for the Movak programme.
“They are Dewan Dato Haji Ahmad Badawi in north Seberang Perai; Jalan Betik Sports Complex in central Seberang Perai; Batu Kawan Stadium in south Seberang Perai; City Stadium in northeast district; and Dewan Perda in southwest district,” Jagdeep told a press conference at Taman Camellia, Bandar Perda today.
In a statement, it is said that the Movak programme would be held from 8.30am to 3pm, from Aug 30 to Sept 2.
Jagdeep urged those involved to check out the local council’s websites for more information.
On a separate matter, he thanked all the volunteers and frontliners who had provided their services to make the Penang Covid-19 mass screening (PSC-19) programme a success.
“Today (Aug 22) marks the end of the PSC-19 programme in Penang after we have successfully conducted Covid-19 mass screenings at 43 locations in the state. We revisited some locations which are deemed serious.
“As of yesterday (Aug 21), a total of 44,448 people had registered for the PSC-19 programme.
“We have screened 37,959 people as of yesterday (Aug 21).
“I believe that we can conclude the PSC-19 today (Aug 22), screening 40,000 people in total.
“We will hand over the remaining amount to the State Secretary for them to be used to screen the civil servants, should there be any leftovers,” he said after observing the PSC-19 programme at Taman Camellia.
Jagdeep said the PSC-19 was part of the state government’s 3Ts (testing, tracing, treatment) effort to fight Covid-19.
“The state government has allocated more than RM3.5 million to provide free Covid-19 screenings to 40,000 people in Penang under the PSC-19 programme,” he said.
Meanwhile, Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud thanked the state for organising the PSC-19 programme in Penang.
“The programme has benefitted many people including some 2,600 MBSP frontliners,” he said.
Separately, he urged those who wish to use the public pools on the mainland (beginning Aug 23) to make an appointment. They can call 04-5497489 or 012-5721567.
Rozali also said that the local council and the police would be conducting spot checks on the traders and workers at the Bukit Mertajam and Sri Rambai public markets.
“The state and the local council have given free Covid-19 vaccines for the traders and workers at these two public markets via the outreach programme.
“We have given the traders and workers at the two public markets ample time to register and get themselves vaccinated.
“The traders and workers at the Bukit Mertajam and Sri Rambai public markets must either have been vaccinated, given an appointment date for vaccination, or have registered for vaccination via the MySejahtera app.
“They will not be allowed to trade with immediate effect if they fail to fulfil any of the above requirement,” he said.
Central Seberang Perai OCPD Asst Comm Shafee Abd Samad said the police would be working with MBSP to conduct the spot checks on the traders and workers at the Bukit Mertajam and Sri Rambai public markets.
“We thank the council and the state for organising the vaccination outreach programme for the traders at the two public markets. The programme was a good effort for the traders and workers,” he added.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad