KUCHING (Feb 24): Sarawak will receive six shipments of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine consisting of 87,750 doses, said State Health director Dr Chin Zin Hing.
He said the first shipment, which arrived in the state today, contained 23,400 doses that will be administered to more than 90,000 frontliners.
“The first phase of our vaccination programme will start this Friday until March 31 and we will try to cover 97,161 frontliners,” he told a press conference after witnessing the arrival of the first batch of the vaccines at the Raya Air Warehouse at the cargo area of Kuching International Airport this evening.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion were present during the arrival of the vaccine.
Dr Chin said the second shipment of the vaccine containing 31,590 doses is expected to arrive on March 2 followed by the third and fourth shipments of 4,680 doses each on March 10 and 17 respectively.
The last two shipments will arrive on March 24 (14,040 doses) and March 31 (9,360 doses).
He said the first shipment of vaccines will be sent to the vaccine storage centres in Kuching and Sibu tomorrow.
“The day after tomorrow, they will then be sent to the 53 vaccination centres in Kuching division, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Kapit and Mukah.
“Once these divisions receive the vaccines, they will start the vaccination for the frontliners,” he said.
Upon completion of the first phase, the second and third phase of the state’s vaccination programme will start from April 1 until Aug 31.
“The second phase will cover 929,435 individuals from the elderly and high-risk group namely those with comorbidities whereas the third phase will be administered to 992,834 individuals who are aged 18 years and above,” said Dr Chin.
A total of 2,019,431 Sarawakians are eligible for the free Covid-19 vaccinations.