SHAH ALAM: Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari were among 42 individuals who were vaccinated at the launch of the state-level National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme today.

Also present to get the first shot of the vaccine at Shah Alam Hospital were, State Health Department director Datuk Dr Sha'ari Ngadiman, acting Selangor police chief Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed and state executive council members.

All who received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine today will get their second shot on March 18 at the same venue.

Dr Noor Azmi in his speech said six hospitals in the state, namely Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Klang; Serdang Hospital; Selayang Hospital; Sungai Buloh Hospital; Ampang Hospital and Tanjong Karang Hospital are being used as vaccine storage centres.

"A total of 70 government health facilities have been identified as vaccination centres," he said adding that apart from these health facilities, the state government is also looking into district facilities to implement mass vaccination for phase two and three of the immunisation programme.

Meanwhile, Amirudin in a press conference after the ceremony said, for the first phase, Selangor had received 78,000 doses of the vaccine which would be for the state's frontline workers.

"The list of frontliners to receive the vaccine is being prepared by State Public Health, Unity, Women and Family Committee chairman, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud and priority will be given to government and private hospital staff, security forces personnel and hopefully teachers too will be among the recipients," he said.

In addition, Amirudin said state assemblymen, district officers, mayors and council presidents are also in the list of recipients under the first phase, scheduled to end in April or early May.

"It is important for this group to be immunised first, as they would be involved in the subsequent phases of the immunisation programme," he added.

-- BERNAMA