Mobilise more supplies to states lagging far behind in vaccination, DAP MPs tell govt

13 Aug 2021 By Nur Syafiqah Abdullah KOTA KINABALU: Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) has urged the federal government to mobilise more vaccine supplies to states that are lagging far behind in vaccination for adults. In a joint statement, they said whilst the vaccinations roll out for adults had been quite successful in certain states which achieved over 100 per cent vaccination date for first dose, the adult population in most of the other states in Malaysia are still begging for vaccines. Among the states is Sabah where the vaccination rate of adults remains the lowest in Malaysia with just slightly over 40 per cent for first dose and less than 20 per cent completed their second dose. In Kelantan, the adult vaccination rate for first dose is similarly low at 48.8 per cent. "Other states such as Penang and Melaka only had slightly over 60 per cent of the adult population vaccinated, whilst Terengganu, Perak, Pahang, Kedah and Johor’s vaccination rate (first dose) for adults is less than 60 per cent. "In Melaka and Penang, many second dose appointments have postponed due to vaccine shortage. Some who have not received their first dose appointment resorted to change their address to Selangor and travel there to receive their vaccine. "This goes to show a clear imbalance of vaccine supply over states in Malaysia. This also goes to show that there might be an incidence of oversupply in certain states," they said in the statement issued today. The statement was signed by Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin, Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai, Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong, Labis MP Pang Hok Liong, and Bentong MP Wong Tack. Thus, they said it is now time to focus on achieving 70 per cent adult vaccination rate in these states lagging behind as adults who are breadwinners of the family are still left out and at higher risk of contracting Covid-19. "Let us also defer the re-opening of school term to a later date and protect our adolescents from risk of exposure to Covid-19."