Covid-19 vaccination drive: No one will be left behind

 

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup (centre) received Covid-19 vaccination during National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Sabah Interior zone at Keningau Health Office. - Photo courtesy of Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.

KENINGAU: Those living in the remote interior will not be left behind in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP), says Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.

He said people in the interior without internet access, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, would still be able to register for the NIP via traditional methods even if they do not sign up via the MySejahtera app.

"This is to ensure that no community is left behind in the inoculation drive," he said after the launching of the NIP for the Sabah interior zone programme at the district health office here today.

He said the arrival of the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines in the country would help minimise the negative impact on the economy, gradually enabling more economic sectors to operate and possibly reopening international borders in stages.

Keningau is the second district to receive the vaccine after Kota Kinabalu. The district received 1,365 vials equivalent to 8,190 doses of Covid-19 vaccine for the first phase.

Kurup, who is the Pensiangan member of parliament, was among the recipients of the vaccine today.

The first phase of the programme is expected to cover 4,950 healthcare personnel, police, firemen, defence personnel and other frontliners in the district.

20 public facilities in Keningau, Tambunan, Tenom and Nabawan will be used as vaccination centres. The Keningau district hospital has the capability to store the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Meanwhile, Sabah recorded 78 new Covid-19 cases today with 94 recoveries.

Sabah Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the people of Nabawan, which is under the Movement Control Order (MCO) until March 16, will not be allowed to leave their homes or the district except in emergency cases such as deaths or natural disasters.

He however said family members are allowed to go out to buy necessities or seek health treatments within 10 kilometres from their homes.

Students sitting for major examinations, teachers and those in essential services are allowed to travel between districts.

Religious and recreational activities are also forbidden.