KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will implement several measures including the administration of Covid-19 vaccine shots in the areas placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said vaccines would be given to those in the 34 sub-districts in Selangor and 14 localities in Kuala Lumpur affected by the EMCO, as well as those in adjacent areas.
However, those observing quarantine after they were identified as close contacts to positive Covid-19 cases, would only receive their jabs after they test negative for the virus in their second swab test.
"For the other individuals, the vaccination drive could be carried out in the EMCO areas, according to the ministry's plan," Dr Adham told Berita Harian today.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri on Thursday announced that the EMCO would be implemented in several localities here and 34 sub-districts in Selangor starting today for 14 days until July 16.
The decision to enforce the EMCO was made after Selangor and Kuala Lumpur continuously recorded a high number of daily Covid-19 cases.
On a related matter, Dr Adham said the progress of the mass vaccination drive under the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP) hinges on the availability and supply of the vaccines.
Hence, he said proper planning must be in place to ensure the utilisation of the vaccines based on the supply available.
From February until May, Dr Adham said the supply of Covid-19 vaccines were limited subsequently affecting the progress of the vaccination exercise under the NIP.
This has resulted in the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) focusing and giving priority to targeted groups such as the country's frontliners and vulnerable groups especially those aged 60 and above with chronic illness.
"The vaccination drive is expected to accelerate following the arrival of greater supply of vaccines since last month as well as the activation of more vaccination centres (PPV).
"This will enable the government to achieve its target of getting 70 per cent or 80 per cent of the country's population vaccinated against Covid-19," he said.
Dr Adham said this when he was asked to comment on the vaccination rate which fluctuated with the lowest at 150,000 doses per day and highest at 268,608 doses on June 24.
