PEMERKASA: Government increases vaccine implementation allocation to RM5 billion - PM

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will increase the allocation specifically for the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country to RM5 billion, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

In a special message today, he said it was part of the RM20 billion People and Economic Empowerment Strategic Program (PEMERKASA) worth RM20 billion with a fiscal injection of RM11 billion.

It is an increase in allocation, which was previously set at around RM3 billion through the 2021 Budget presented by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz last November.

"For the first focus, which is to control the spread of COVID-19, the government is implementing various public health measures to curb COVID-19 in addition to starting the National COVID-19 Immunisation Program..

"To date, more than 300,000 people have received the first injection of the vaccine.

"The government will increase the allocation for immunisation programs from RM3 billion to RM5 billion to accelerate the group immunization target in December 2021, compared to the initial target of the first quarter of 2022," he added.

To achieve the target, the Prime Minister said, 15,000 staff, will be stationed at almost 950 Vaccination Centers (PPV) nationwide.

Taking into account the increase in duties, he added, the government has agreed to extend the COVID-19 Special Assistance at a rate of RM200 per month to civil servants involved in the immunisation program at the PPVs.

Based on the details provided, the allocation will be split into two -- RM3.5 billion for vaccines, and RM1.5 billion for the Immunisation Program.

With the new allocation, which will begin in December 2021, it will cover at least 80 per cent of the country’s population, as well as 40 per cent for buffer stocks.