JAWI – The government projected that approximately 2.25 million workers from the manufacturing sector who will be receiving their Covid-19 vaccine would reach herd immunity latest by this September.
Nevertheless, the Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said that the projection would depend on the vaccine supply and manpower for the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (PIKAS).
“Yesterday, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Khairy Jamaluddin and the Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba have given their guarantee in the Cabinet Meeting that the vaccine supply will be increased
“Semalam Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (MOSTI) Khairy Jamaludin dan in July and August.
“We hope that part of the vaccine would be allocated for the economic sector, however, as per my previous statement, the priority would be given to the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK),” he said after visiting the vaccination centre for the economic frontliners at the Bukit Jawi Golf Resort today.
Also present at the event was the Chief Minister of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow.
Azmin added, once the herd immunity in the economic sector is reached, it would be reopened in stages.
“Thus, before we make the decision to open it, we want these workers to get their shots first,” said Azmin.
On a relevant development, he said that MITI has received the application from more than 1,200 companies involving 200,000 employees for PIKAS.
Azmin said, PIKAS will be implemented in stages with 150,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine being allocated during its first phase for a one-month period beginning yesterday.
He said, PIKAS is launched concurrently in Selangor, Penang, Johor and Sarawak.
Through PIKAS, the economic frontliners would be shielded from the Covid-19 pandemic, thus, facilitating the national economic recovery.
“According to the statistics of the first quarter of 2021 from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), we have 2.25 million workers in the manufacturing sector.
“I believe that sufficient supply of vaccine would be able to fulfil this need,” he said. –MalaysiaGazette
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