Labuan receives first batch of COVID-19 vaccine

After the Kimanis 1 ferry docked at the terminal jetty at about 9.50 am, DHL Express workers were seen unloading the vaccines from a van into a waiting truck under the watchful eyes of a Labuan police force unit.

The vaccines were transported by road from Kota Kinabalu for 155 km and ferried to Labuan, with escort from patrol boats of marine police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

The vaccines were then transferred to the vaccine storage centre at the Labuan Hospital under the care of Labuan police.

Among those present to receive the vaccines were Labuan Health Department director Dr Ismuni Bohari, Labuan Disaster Management Committee chairman Rithuan Ismail, Labuan acting police chief DSP Mohd Ibrahim Ghani and National Security Council director Mohd Hafiez Daud. Dr Ismuni said the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination in Labuan would involve 2,340 healthcare and non-healthcare frontliners, local leaders and Labuan-based media representatives from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), RTM and Information Department.

Labuan's immunisation programme will kick off tomorrow morning at the Membedai Health Clinic, with Dr Ismuni getting the first jab, followed by Senator Datuk Bashir Alias, Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Rozman Isli, Rithuan, DSP Mohd Ibrahim and 12 media representatives.

Dr Ismuni said the immunisation exercise would cover approximately 103,000 people and is expected to run until the end of this year.

"The Labuan Health Department has been tasked with ensuring that 100 per cent of the population here will be given the vaccine to achieve herd immunity on the island," he said.

He said the second phase of the vaccination is scheduled for May, soon after the first phase is completed.

"I hope the process will run smoothly ... Labuan healthcare personnel will give their full commitment to the federal government with regard to the implementation of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme," he added.