Majority of Orang Asli declining vaccination, says deputy minister

Only 15,307 out of 79,041 Orang Asli who have returned their registration forms for Covid-19 vaccination have agreed to be given a jab under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, Deputy Rural Development Minister I Abdul Rahman Mohamad was reported as saying today.

“We can see that the number of people who agreed to be vaccinated is low,” Rahman told reporters after visiting the Sungai Berua Orang Asli village in Kuala Berang, according to Bernama.

“Most of them rejected the vaccine for fear of dying within two to three years after vaccination.”

He added that the forms were distributed to some 120,000 eligible recipients.

“But we only got back 79,041 forms. So I agree that awareness (regarding vaccination) within the Orang Asli community is still low,” he said.

He said a total of 3,018 Orang Asli have been vaccinated so far.

He also said that the ministry together with the Department of Orang Asli Development and relevant authorities would continue to expand engagement sessions with the Orang Asli to explain the importance of getting vaccinated.

“Maybe they did not get a clear explanation. So, the ministry will revise its strategy and programme to advise and explain so that every eligible Orang Asli agrees to be vaccinated,” he added.