Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) flagging off the 2nd Covid Vaccination Outreach Programme to the hinterlands of Magandai on Tuesday, while Tandek Assemblyman Hendrus Anding (second left) and Kota Marudu District Officer Alexander Yong ( center) look on.
KOTA MARUDU: The district inoculation programme is forced to slow down due to insufficient supplies of vaccine.
Kota Marudu Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, said rural folk here are the most affected by the situation.
“Inoculation appointments had to be postponed at the last minute due to insufficient supplies of vaccine, some were told when they reached the centres.
“Such a situation should not happen, especially those from far flung areas. We are worried that it would discourage them from coming for the next inoculation appointment,” he said.
Speaking after flagging off the 2nd Covid-19 Vaccination Outreach Programme to the hinterlands of Magandai, here, today, Ongkili, who is also the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) hopes the issue would be overcome soon.
“I believe this situation is not restricted to Kota Marudu alone, but other districts as well, including Sarawak.
“I have conveyed the problem to both Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Khairy Jamaluddin and Minister of Health Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba so the constraint can be overcome soonest.
“Therefore, I hope the relevant authorities will ensure there is enough vaccine supply for the eastern states of Malaysia,” he stressed.
He, however, said the government has done its best and committed to ensuring every Malaysian is given their Covid-19 vaccine shots through the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
“We believe inoculation processes can be beefed up through the outreach programmes, and ensure that far-flung folk are not neglected,” he said.
To date, of the over 50,000 population in Kota Marudu, only a total of 27,589 (55%) have registered for the vaccination programme.
“Of the figure, a total of 7,899 have at least received their first dose, while 5,408 have completed both doses in Kota Marudu, while for Matunggong,1,060 have received their first dose and 1,052 have done both.
“Despite the insufficient supplies, I am happy that many turned up for the inoculation programme, it is encouraging although initially the response was rather slow,” said Ongkili.
Also present were Tandek Assemblyman, Hendrus Anding, and Kota Marudu District Officer, Alexander Yong.
