Frontliners in Phase 1 to complete first jab by mid-April

All frontliners in the government and private sectors targeted in Phase One of the national vaccination programme are expected to have received their first dose of vaccine by April.

Speaking at a press conference today, Khairy Jamaluddin, the minister in charge of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, said about 90% of the 500,000 frontliners listed in Phase One have received their first jab.

He said frontliners on the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force targeted list should complete their vaccination by mid-April.

“Based on the original line listing, 90% of medical and non-medical frontliners have received at least the first dose.

“We will be completing Phase One in the next two weeks for the first dose,” he said.

He said the government is depending on health officials at hospitals, district health offices and state health departments involved in the programme to ensure that every medical frontliner completes their first dose as soon as possible.

“We are hopeful that hospitals, district health offices and state health departments have not forgotten anyone in the line listing,” he said.

“That’s a manual thing we are looking into, to make sure everyone qualified receives it.”

Phase Two of the vaccination programme, involving those aged 60 and above and high-risk groups, is expected to begin on April 19.

Khairy said those listed under the second phase will be notified two weeks before their vaccine appointments through the MySejahtera application.