Government to discuss with DBKL to manage COVID-19 vaccination for homeless people - Khairy
Hasimi Muhamad
March 9, 2021 17:40 MYT
March 9, 2021 17:40 MYT
Khairy said they were still drafting the mechanism to include refugee groups and undocumented foreign workers. BERNAMA pic
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) will hold discussions with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to ensure that homeless people are not left out of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Program (PICK).
Its minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said they were still drafting the mechanism to include refugee groups and undocumented foreign workers.
“We are still developing strategies for the homeless, refugees, as well as undocumented foreign workers.
“I will have a meeting this week with agencies and the United Nations (UN), to find the best method for refugees.
"Maybe I will coordinate a meeting with DBKL for the homeless later," he said in a press conference here today.
He said this while making a survey at the Vaccination Centre (PSV) at the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
Also present was the Director of Universiti Malaysia Medical Centre (UMMC), Professor Dr Nazirah Hasnan.
With regard to the states which recorded a number of less than 5,000 people vaccinated, Khairy said his party and the Ministry of Health (MOH) always held engagement sessions to identify the problems faced by each state.
“I understand Dr Adham also held a session with state health directors yesterday to find out what problems are faced in the field.
“Some issues have already been resolved, and God willing the average (of vaccinated individuals) will increase this week and next week,” explained Khairy who is also the Coordinating Minister for the National COVID-19 Immunisation Program (PICK).
Meanwhile, Khairy also informed that young people with chronic problems or in the high-risk category belong to the second phase of PICK.
A total of 166,363 individuals in the first phase group had received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine through PICK as of March 8, 2021.
Of the total, four states, Melaka, Perlis, the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, and the Federal Territory of Labuan each recorded a total of less than 5,000 recipients.