Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Why Block Free Covid-19 Vaccine Destined For The People Of Penang?

 Why Block Free Covid-19 Vaccine Destined For The People Of Penang? - 

Press Release By MTUC Penang Division 


When the nation is in the grips of an escalating Covid-19 infection it would have been expected, of the Ministry Of Health, to welcome all available resources in it's battle to arrest the situation. We are, therefore, baffled as to why the federal authorities have deemed it fit to deprive the people of Penang the opportunity to make themselves available of free vaccination courtesy of, as reported, a private company.


As we are given to understand, there is a pressing need to create herd immunity amongst the population and, that, it can only be done so if the vast majority of the people are vaccinated. If that be the case 2 million  available doses of the Sinovac vaccine would be suffice to vaccinate the entire 1.8 million people of Penang. Given the fact that, Penang's population density is amongst the highest in the nation, it would be imperative that a vaccination roll-out programme ought to prioritise the state in the pursuit to create the said herd immunity. 


While we recognise, that, the federal government has constraints, in the roll-out of the national Covid-19 immunisation programme, what we cannot comprehend is why it has found it fit to block the 2 million doses of free vaccination for the people of Penang!


They say that, one should not look a gift horse in the mouth and we believe that it would be an appropriate analogy in the circumstances! Faced with the unprecedented challenges brought forth by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is our view that there is no rhyme or reason for the federal government to deny the people of Penang the opportunity to make themselves available of the vaccination so made available by a generous donor. And, on this score it is our view that the safety and well-being of the people ought to be the utmost consideration regardless of all political inclinations. 


We, therefore, urge the Ministry Of Health and the Perikatan National government not to deny the people of Penang the opportunity to make themselves available of the Covid-19 vaccination.


K. Veeriah 

Secretary 

Malaysian Trade Union Congress 

Penang Division 

016 4184520

18.5.2021