Single-dose vaccines for Kelantan Orang Asli, says Khairy

The Orang Asli communities in the Kelantan interior will be given the single-dose CanSino and Johnson & Johnson jabs once the vaccines arrive in the country, says National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said the vaccines, which are expected to arrive next month, will be given to these groups as they only require one dose as opposed to the two-shot regime needed with other vaccines.

“We will deliver them to Kelantan, especially the rural areas in Gua Musang, Kuala Krai and the like, so there will be no need to make the trip twice in order to be vaccinated,” he said at a press conference together with Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob.

Conditional approval for the two vaccines was granted by the government on June 15.

On the low numbers of registration for vaccination among the Orang Asli in Gua Musang, Khairy said the government was mobilising an outreach programme to provide information and vaccination at the same time.

“This outreach programme is in order to explain that the Covid-19 vaccine protects from the virus. After that, they can be vaccinated straight away.

“We won’t need to worry about low registration. We will go and vaccinate them directly,” he said.

He added that five vaccination centres will be opened in Bachok, Kota Baru, Pasir May, Machang and Kuala Krai in addition to other centres at private hospitals and clinics.

“With this capacity, I am confident we can finish vaccinating Kelantan’s adult population by October.”

He also said the government would open up vaccination centres for walk-ins after those who have registered have received their jabs.