Vaccine

GEORGE TOWN: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has embarked on a three-pronged strategy to increase the number of vaccinations in the country, says Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin ( pic ). The Housing and Local Government Minister said the government has embarked on calls, mobilisation and outreach units to ensure a higher percentage of vaccinations. "A pilot project under the Voluntary Community Coordination project in Ampang recently was encouraging and we are planning to bring the programne nationwide in phases," said Zuraida after visiting the Balik Pulau Covid-19 Vaccination Centre, the second area identified for the programne here on Saturday (June 19). "Calls will be made by the call centre unit to all who do not turn-up for the vaccination appointments as Malaysians feel the government cares if a call is made," she said. Zuraida said the mobilisation unit will arrange for transport, especially in rural areas where people can be picked up and dropped off to ensure ... » Learn More about Housing and Local Govt Ministry embarks on three-pronged strategy to boost Covid-19 vaccination

PETALING JAYA: A vaccine dispensing centre will soon be set up in Yong Peng to serve the constituents at Ayer Hitam, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. The Ayer Hitam MP said that the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee (JKJAV) has approved setting up a vaccination centre at Dewan Persatuan Memperbaiki Akhlak Che Ann Khor (PMACAK) in Yong Peng. "I was informed about this by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry secretary-general Datin Paduka Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir. "Before this, I had put forward the request to the JKJAV joint chairman Khairy Jamaluddin to set up a vaccination centre in the Ayer Hitam parliamentary constituency. "The place that was suggested was the Dewan PMACAK in Yong Peng, which is strategically located as it is only one to three kilometres from the Yong Peng North and South toll plaza," he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (June 22). He expressed his appreciation to Khairy for the decision which will be beneficial to ... » Learn More about Covid-19 vaccination centre to be set up in Yong Peng

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): The second phase of Brunei Darussalam’s Covid-19 vaccination programme for teachers, childcare staff and adults at high risk or suffering from chronic diseases commenced on Monday (June 21), at nationwide inoculation centres. The second phase of the programme will run parallel with the first phase for frontliners, students going abroad and senior citizens aged 60 and above. Yesterday, scores of people lining up to receive their first shots were inoculated with the Moderna vaccine, which arrived in the country from Spain on Sunday. One of them was 79-year-old Kon Kui Lan, who told the Bulletin, “It was so quick and painless, I didn’t realise that it was already over.” Another recipient, Selina Lim, said, “If we are entitled to the jab, then just take it. We have to do our part in protecting others.” Han, 62, who decided to go to the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex at the last minute, said, “I didn’t feel ... » Learn More about Brunei begins second phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive

WELL-organised and friendly – that was the verdict by those who turned up for their vaccination at the KL Tzu Chi Jing Si Hall in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme. Lee Cal Vin, who took his grandparents to the centre, said he was relieved to find a team of volunteers waiting at the front entrance to offer assistance while he parked his car. The couple were among hundreds who had been inoculated at the hall belonging to the Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia. The foundation had offered its premises for free to the Health Ministry (MOH) to carry out and expedite the government’s vaccination programme. Revealing that his grandparents were late for their appointment as they had not checked their MySejahtera app earlier, Their next appointment is scheduled for July. “I also found the doctors on duty to be very knowledgeable. Overall, the volunteers were kind and helpful,” said Lee. Giving an in-depth view into the operating procedure, Ee ... » Learn More about Thumbs up for service at NGO’s vaccination venue

PETALING JAYA: About one million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered by the private healthcare sector, says the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia. Its president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh ( pic ) said that this information came from ProtectHealth, adding that about 100 private hospitals and 700 general practitioners are involved in the vaccination programme. ProtectHealth is the Health Ministry-appointed implementer of private medical practitioner participation in the national immunisation programme. "Most private hospitals have their own vaccination centres operated by their own nurses, doctors and administrative staff. "Private hospitals have also deployed hundreds of staff members to various mega vaccination centres in Setia Alam, KLCC Convention Centre and Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec). "We are looking forward to assisting the government similarly in other states to enhance the vaccination process," he said in a statement on ... » Learn More about Covid-19: About one million shots administered by private sector so far

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed 18 new cases of Covid-19 infection in Singapore as of 12pm on Tuesday (June 22). This brings the total number of cases to 62,448. There are 15 cases in the community today, of whom 10 are linked to previous cases and five are currently unlinked. Five currently unlinked cases Case 64374 Case 64374 is a 26-year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who works as an analyst at Deutsche Bank, and is a household contact of Case 64373. She developed a fever and sore throat on June 15, and subsequently a runny nose and cough on June 17. She sought medical treatment at a General Practitioner (GP) clinic on June 17 but declined to be tested for Covid-19. She was given five days’ medical leave and advised to self-isolate. After Case 64373 tested positive for Covid-19 infection on June 21, the bank analyst visited a GP clinic on the same day, where she underwent both an antigen rapid test (ART) and polymerase chain reaction ... » Learn More about 2 new clusters including Redhill Close, driver & Deutsche Bank analyst among 5 new unlinked Covid-19 cases

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): There were 18 new coronavirus cases confirmed at noon on Tuesday (June 22), taking Singapore's total to 62,448. Of these, 15 were community cases - five of which are currently unlinked. There were no cases from migrant workers' dormitories, and three imported cases who had been placed on stay-home notice on arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). On Monday night, MOH said a 44-year-old man died of complications from Covid-19 infection on Sunday. This brings Singapore's death toll from the coronavirus to 35. The man was admitted to Alexandra Hospital on May 25 and was confirmed to have the Covid-19 infection the next day. He had not been vaccinated against Covid-19, and had a history of diabetes, said MOH. Alexandra Hospital has contacted his family and is extending assistance to them, added the ministry. MOH said that special testing operations will be conducted for all staff at the FairPrice supermarket at 166 Bukit ... » Learn More about 18 new Covid-19 cases in Singapore, including 15 in community

BANGKOK, June 18 (Xinhua): Thailand announced on Friday to further ease restrictions on restaurant dine-in services in the capital Bangkok and three other provinces as the government struggled to strike a balance between pandemic containment and easing economic pains from the third wave of outbreak. From Monday, restaurants in Bangkok and its neighboring Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan provinces will be given two more hours for dine-in services and can receive customers up to half of their capacity, expanding from previous 25 percent, said Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesperson of the Centre for the Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). This was in response to a letter of petition from the Thai Restaurant Association, calling for an extension to the dine-in hours for customers at restaurants in the four regions. Bangkok and the three provinces are the epicenter of the third wave of outbreak, which has seen a sharp surge in infections since early April. The four regions ... » Learn More about Thailand to further ease restaurant dine-in restrictions despite high case tally

BANGKOK, June 16 (Xinhua): Thailand aimed to fully reopen to foreign visitors in 120 days and give at least one shot of vaccine to about 50 million people by October to revive the economy, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha had announced. Tourism destinations that are ready could reopen to fully vaccinated foreign visitors without quarantine requirements before the broader reopening, with Phuket as a pilot, Prayut said in a televised address. The country plans to administer an average of around 10 million doses of vaccine a month from July, and by early October about 50 million people will receive at least one shot, he said. Although the decision may risk an increase in infections, he said, "when we take into consideration of the economic needs of people, the time has now come for us to take that calculated risk. The priorities for our country must now advance to the next level." Battered by the pandemic, Thailand recorded its worst economic recession in more than two decades ... » Learn More about Thailand targets fully reopening in 120 days to reboot economy

BEIJING (China Daily/ANN): President Xi Jinping underlined on Monday (June 21) the need for China and the European Union to jointly uphold dialogue and cooperation as the mainstream of bilateral relations and mutual benefit as the main theme for bilateral cooperation. It was a hard-won outcome for China and the EU to secure an uptrend in bilateral relations amid the Covid-19 pandemic last year, and the two sides should make every effort to treasure this outcome, Xi said during a phone conversation with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto. Against the backdrop of a fast-changing global landscape and various new global threats and challenges, Xi called for cooperation instead of confrontation and efforts to seek win-win outcomes rather than a zero-sum game. The president expressed his hope that Finland can play a unique positive role in promoting the healthy and steady development of China-EU relations. He called on both nations to boost their complementary strengths, and ... » Learn More about China’s Xi calls on EU to jointly pursue cooperation