Over 95,000 vaccine jabs given in new daily record

A total of 95,009 people received a dose of Covid-19 vaccine yesterday, the most jabs administered so far in a single day.

Of these, 69,112 were administered their first shot of vaccine while the remaining 25,887 received their second dose.

The numbers were due in part to the launch of an AstraZeneca vaccination centre at the Ideal Convention Centre Shah Alam yesterday.

Previously, the record for the most doses administered in a day was 83,648, on May 19.

Authorities have said that the number of doses is expected to continue increasing as the country receives more shipments of vaccine.

Khairy Jamaluddin, the minister in charge of the national immunisation programme, previously said the slow vaccination rate was due to a lack of vaccine supply.

He said this would stabilise by June, at which point mass vaccination would be in “full swing”.

“So while I know everyone is anxious about getting their Covid-19 vaccination, I would also like to manage expectations with the reality of vaccine availability,” he said, adding that he would continue to push for more supplies to arrive as soon as possible.

The government is aiming to achieve herd immunity through the inoculation of 80% of the population by February next year.