IT is possible for Penang to achieve herd immunity by the end of October this year, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
“For it to happen, some 9,000 to 10,000 people must be inoculated daily.
“We can achieve that if the Covid-19 vaccine supply and the number of Covid-19 vaccination centres (PPV) in Penang are increased,” Chow said during his visit to the Setia SPICE Arena with National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin today.
The Setia SPICE Arena will be one of the three new PPVs in the state.
“We learn that about 133,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be administered here from June 7 to July 27. This is for those who have registered for the opt-in programme previously announced by the Federal Government.
The other two PPVs identified and will be operating are the Penang pesta site in the northeast district of Penang and Tapak Ekspo in central Seberang Perai on the mainland.
Khairy echoed Chow’s calls and gave his assurance that the vaccine supply to all the states, including Penang, would be increased rapidly in July and August this year.
He also said that some 1,000 people are expected to be inoculated daily at the Setia SPICE Arena.
“On weekdays, we are looking at 1,000 people, but during the weekends, we hope to hit the 2,000-mark.
“I will soon be suggesting to the relevant authorities to consider using companies or premises located within the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone and Batu Kawan Free Industrial Park as potential PPVs.
“This is to speed up the country’s efforts to further curb the spread of the infection, as well as to ensure that factory workers are inoculated as soon as possible.
“We hope that over 150,000 people nationwide can be vaccinated daily in the coming months, especially in July, August and September,” Khairy said in his speech.
According to the statistics, a total of 3,212,873 vaccine doses (dose 1 and 2) have been administered nationwide as of June 2; out of which 171,903 doses have been administered in Penang.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Chan Kok Kuan