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GEORGE TOWN – Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has called on health exco Dr Norlela Ariffin to work harder in fighting the Covid-19 virus by utilising the 20,000 vaccine doses donated by Selangor to inoculate hawkers and small and medium enterprise (SME) workers.
The former Penang chief minister said the state’s economy can reopen and recover faster if more workers are fully vaccinated.
In a statement on Thursday, Lim said, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had promptly confirmed that Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari had not only agreed to lend Penang 200,000 doses of Sinovac jabs due to supply disruption of the Pfizer vaccine, but will also be donating (an additional) 20,000 doses.
“This (development) follows my statement questioning the Penang exco for health on the state’s failure to disclose that Selangor will be donating 20,000 doses of vaccine, which will apparently be done personally by Amirudin when he visits Penang next week.”
Lim had also disclosed through the same statement that it was the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) that initiated the move to borrow the 200,000 vaccines from Selangor.
“CITF will then return the 200,000 borrowed vaccines to Selangor at a later date when the vaccine supply is restored.
“The 20,000 vaccine doses donated by Selangor has a current market cost of RM3.5 million and I wish to thank Amirudin for his contribution to Penang," he said.
Amirudin’s decision, he said, to purchase 1.25 million doses proved to be the correct one, with the current problems caused by supply disruption.
At present, the Klang Valley has achieved a full vaccination rate of 88.7% for its adult population.
The disruption in vaccine supply has caused havoc to the national vaccination programme, with Penang dropping from sixth to seventh place in the ranking of states approaching full vaccination of their adult populations, he said.
“As of yesterday, Melaka has surpassed Penang with 54.7% compared to Penang’s 53.1% of its adult population receiving both doses.”
Lim further lamented that yesterday, only 24,318 doses were delivered to Penang, well below the target of at least 30,000 daily doses achieved last month.
Penang also recorded the highest number of deaths (38) yesterday, with the surge of infections in the state continuing to rise unabated.
“There is an urgent need to ramp up vaccination as it is one of the most effective measures to mitigate the effects of Covid-19.
“Even though the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme is under the federal government, Penangites are unhappy with the slow vaccination rate and are beginning to blame the state government.
“Dr Norlela must work harder to prevent delays in vaccination, which can lead to higher risk exposure to loss of life," he said. – The Vibes, August 28, 2021
