PENANG has set its target to achieve two objectives within the next two months.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said everyone who is eligible for the vaccination programme under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) should at least receive the first dose of the vaccine by early September this year.
“Secondly, 40% of the state’s adult population should receive two doses of vaccines by the end of next month.
“These are the two ‘big’ targets which Penang aims to achieve in the upcoming months.
Penang is now in the phase two of the NRP.
He said that Penang has about 1.384 million adult population.
“There are still over 200,000 people who have yet to register for their vaccination.
“We hope that these group of people will register quickly for us to achieve herd immunity.
“Vaccination and compliance to standard operating procedures are important for us to get out from this Covid-19 situation.
He was happy to note that the Covid-19 vaccination centre (PPV) in Plexus Manufacturing Sdn Bhd was operating smoothly with 1,500 doses of vaccines were administered daily since it started operating on Wednesday (July 14).
“More PPVs under the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (Pikas) are expected to be opened by the end of this month.
“We believe that this effort will help the state to achieve its milestones soon.
“We can do it,” he told Buletin Mutiara after visiting the PPV at Plexus Manufacturing Sdn Bhd in Bayan Lepas today.
During the visit, Chow was briefed by Plexus Asia Pacific (APAC) regional president Victor Tan on the vaccination process.
Tan was delighted to assist state government in its vaccination effort.
“It is our initiative to create a safe environment for our employees and we hope to complete vaccination process soon.
“Our PPV is open daily from Monday to Sunday (8am-9pm),” he said.
Earlier, Chow had also visited the PPV at Intel Technology Sdn Bhd in Bayan Lepas.
Accompanied by Intel’s corporate vice-president Robin Martin, Chow was briefed on the inoculation effort.
Chow expressed his gratitude to Intel Technology Sdn Bhd for coming up with its PPV.
“I can see that the PPV operation is carried out smoothly since it started on July 12.
“The PPV will continue to operate even after we have vaccinated our employees. We want to assist in the NIP,” Martin said.
Martin said the company planned to expand the inoculation effort to manufacturers, suppliers and customers soon.
“More than 8,000 employees have received their jabs so far and I hope that more people will be vaccinated in the future.
“It can benefit more than 17,000 people when the vaccination effort expands to suppliers, customers and nearby manufacturers.
“As of now, we vaccinate 1,000 people daily,” he said, adding that the centre is open daily.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad