The Penang state government is requesting the central government to allow private hospitals in the state to procure Covid-19 vaccine and to dispense it to those who can afford to obtain their jabs faster.
State Health, Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman, Norlela Ariffin said the matter was raised with Coordinating Minister of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK), Khairy Jamaluddin in a Vaccine Engagement Meeting yesterday.
“In the meeting yesterday, I told Khairy to allow private hospitals here to acquire vaccine so that those who can afford especially the VIP group would receive their shots faster by paying (to private hospitals).
The first phase of Covid-19 vaccinations in Penang will involve more than 30,000 frontliners, says Chow Kon Yeow (pic).
The Penang Chief Minister said he hoped that the process would be smooth with equal distribution to the state.
"The Penang government is giving full commitment to the Federal government regarding its implementation of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
About 90.3 per cent of Covid-19 patients recorded between January 1 and February 12 did not display any symptoms, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Quoting data obtained from the Health Ministry, he said there must be a focus on curbing the spread of the virus within the community, especially when sporadic spread within the community is now at 70 per cent and involves all ages.
“As of February 15, the R-naught (Rt) for the whole country is at 0.88 and Penang is at 1.01 which is still high,” he said in a statement after attending the virtual meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) as chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today.