New groups to be included in Phase 2 of vaccination plan, says Khairy

Several new groups of recipients for the second phase of Covid-19 vaccination will be announced on Monday, says coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, Khairy Jamaluddin

Khairy, who is also science, technology and innovation minister, said several new groups categorised as economic frontliners and other groups would be added as vaccine recipients in the second phase after this was agreed on at the Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee level.

He said the committee decided to give priority to those in other categories as well, as registration for the second phase had not hit its intended target.

“But I wish to stress here that senior citizens and high-risk groups with chronic diseases and disabilities are still being given priority in the second phase,” he said at a press conference in Shah Alam.

The second phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme will be carried out from April to August 2021.

Khairy said the government would also be adding more vaccination centres in Phase Two and Three to expedite the process.

“It also depends on the delivery of vaccine from abroad so that when we have received more vaccine doses, we will be able to step up vaccination which would need bigger vaccination centres,” he said.

He said dispensing vaccines would also be extended to certain industrial areas especially in factories in Selangor which have many workers.

“We will list the factories and will cooperate with the companies concerned to implement vaccination at the factories or worker hostels so that they do not need to come out to any vaccination centres involving members of the public,” he said.

Khairy said Selangor currently has the highest registration for vaccination against Covid-19.

“In terms of ratio of registration to the targeted population, the national level is at 26.9% while Selangor reached almost 40%. This shows the high level of awareness in the state,” he said.

He said cooperation with the state government would continue to encourage more registration including making house visits and opening counters at public places.