Khairy speaks the lingo to reach out to Kelantanese about booster jabs

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today revealed that the take-up rate for booster shots is the lowest in Kelantan, adopting the distinctive Kelantanese dialect to urge those in the state to go for a third jab.

In a Twitter post, he experessed concern over the low booster rate and the high usage of ICU facilities in the state.

“Loloni Kelate paling rendah skali ambik booster, ambo rusing, ICU sana koho penuh. Ambo mitok sangat puok kita di Kelate pakat cocok vaksin & booster. Pakat gi cocok deh,” he said.

(“Right now, Kelantan is at the bottom in terms of taking a booster dose. I am worried as ICUs there are filling up.

“I urge the people of Kelantan to take the vaccine as well as a booster shot. Ask everyone to go and get the vaccine jab.”)

His post was accompanied by a chart showing booster dose coverage nationwide as of Feb 27.

The Klang Valley recorded the highest coverage with 87.8% of adults having received a booster shot.

This was followed by (78.8%), Melaka (74.2%), Negeri Sembilan (74.0%), Penang (71.5%), Johor (70.5%), Labuan (65.8%), Perak (56%) Pahang (47.5%), Kedah (43.4%) and Terengganu (39.5%).

The bottom three states on the chart were erlis (36.1%), Sabah (24.8%) and Kelantan (22.7%).

Last week, Khairy said the deadline for senior citizens and those who had been vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine to receive a booster jab would be extended to the end of March from the original date of Feb 28.

“Beginning April 1, their vaccination status will change to incomplete if they have yet to receive a booster jab,” he said.