KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP) will be accelerated under the new aid package for the people called Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (Pemulih) through a RM1 billion boost.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said in line with the government's efforts to achieve herd immunity as soon as possible, several new initiatives have been drawn up to further empower the NIP.
To expedite the NIP implementation schedule, Muhyiddin said a total of RM400 million would be allocated to increase the country's vaccine supply and according to him, this would cover 130 per cent of the country's population.
"The increase in the vaccine supply will act as additional buffer stock and also for the 6.4 million adolescents aged 12 to 18 years to be vaccinated. Priority will be given to those who will sit for the SPM examination.
"The government is also closely monitoring and making strict controls following the spread of the Delta Plus variant.
"This has caused several countries to record an increase in the number of infections to the point they had to re-implement movement control orders," he said in a live telecast today.
The Prime Minister also said the government will add 29 more vaccination centres (PPV) on top of the current 341 PPVs as well as introducing drive-thru, mobile and Home-to-Home Outreach PPVs.
On this initiative, Muhyiddin said RM200 million has been allocated for the purpose.
"For example, I visited the MyMedic @ Wilayah Mobile Vaccination programme at Sri Johor PPR in Kuala Lumpur where the focus was given on the elderly and the homeless while several mobile bus units were used in rural areas involving Orang Asli immunisation programme as well as a number of drive-thru PPVs at public universities.
"Recently, I had also visited the OKU-drive thru PPV at the OKU Sentral in Ara Damansara, the first such PPV in the country."
The Pagoh member of parliament said the RM100 special allowance previously given to health volunteers who work over 12 hours a day since June 2021 will also be extended to those working in quarantine centres.
"I have also asked for our PPVs to operate seven days a week in order to expedite the vaccination process for the public."
He said a total of 14,000 health frontliners who are involved in the NIP will be getting RM600 for six months beginning July instead of the current allowance of RM200.
These two initiatives, according to Muhyiddin, involved RM200 million in allocation.
Another initiative to speed up the NIP, according to Muhyiddin was to encourage industries and companies to use their premises as PPVs so that their workers can be vaccinated.
He also said the government will provide the vaccine supply while companies and factories will have to facilitate the process in terms of logistics, adding that this initiative is crucial in curbing the spread of Covid-19 at the workplace.
"To encourage this and to reduce companies' liabilities, RM150 million will be allocated. Among others, the government has agreed to allow employers who are registered with Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) to use their remaining levy up to 10 per cent for the cost of management and purchase of Covid-19 vaccines.
"The government has also agreed to give tax deduction on expenses covering the cost of equipment and services of turning their premises into PPVs.
"In addition, tax deductions on Covid-19 contributions through community or charitable projects are also extended to cover contributions to PPV.
"The government is prepared to consider allowing these companies to operate at full capacity if all of their employees have completed two doses of vaccines," he said.
The last initiative under the Pemulih package to expedite the NIP, according to the Prime Minister, is to ensure that those in the vulnerable groups will be vaccinated as soon as possible.
Muhyiddin said up to RM30 subsidy will be provided to vulnerable groups such as the disabled and senior citizens for taxi fares and e-hailing rides.
"This is to better facilitate their movements to get vaccinated on the day of their appointment."
As of June 26, seven million doses of vaccines have been given to the public, involving five million people.
Of this, 15.5 per cent have received their first dose while almost two million people or six per cent have been given two doses.
At the moment, the country has achieved an average vaccination rate of over 200,000 doses a day in the past seven days.
