GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow became the first non-medical individual in the state to receive the Covid-19 vaccine at the Penang Hospital here, today.
The jab was administered by Matron Hafizah Hamzah at the hospital's Vaccine Delivery Centre (PPV) at 10.25am.
Besides Chow, 11 others also received the Covid-19 vaccine.
They include Penang police chief Datuk Sahabudin Abd Manan; Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman; Deputy Chief Minister II Professor Dr P. Ramasamy; State Secretary Datuk Abdul Razak Jaafar; and state Health Department director Datuk Dr Asmayani Khalib, along with six other medical staff.
Appearing from the PPV after a 15-minute rest, Chow gave the thumbs up sign.
"I don't feel any pain. I want to thank the matron for the gentle process.
"In fact, none of us felt any pain. After the 15-minute rest, we were upbeat and our blood pressure returned to normal.
"We hope this will give confidence to the rakyat to also go for the Covid-19 vaccination," he said at the launch of the state-level National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme today.
Chow said some 31,000 frontliners in the state would be vaccinated under the first phase.
"We have received the first batch of vaccine doses. We are expected to receive another 62,000 doses for the first phase.
"I urge the people of Penang to register through the MySejahtera app for the vaccination.
"We have faced numerous challenges in the past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"But with the vaccine, we can move to the new recovery phase," he added, reminding the people that despite the immunisation programme, the existing standard operating procedures (SOP) still stand.
Those who received the first of two jabs today will return in 21 days to complete the vaccination process.
Hafizah, when met later, said she was a little nervous to administer the jab on Chow, but was grateful that everything went well.
"This is different from other vaccinations, but I am grateful that everything went well.
Meanwhile, Dr Asmayani said some 318 medical staff, including 54 vaccinators, state-wide, were inoculated last week.
"This is so that they are ready for the vaccination process," she added.
For Penang Hospital Infection Control state coordinator Dr Chow T.S, she did not feel any side effects after being administered the jab.
"There is no issue of giddiness or pain. Everything went well," she added.
When approached, Sahabudin said some 6,000 frontliners in the police force have agreed to be vaccinated.
He also said that they would work closely with the state Health Department to ensure the safety of the vaccine.
"I am okay. I don't feel any pain, whatsoever.
"As such, I urge the police to take up the vaccination so we can serve more effectively," he added.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme began in the state today.
Penang is targeting 1.3 million or 70 per cent of its population to be vaccinated to create herd immunity in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the state Health Department, there are 15 Vaccine Delivery Centres (PPV) in the state involving three halls in each of the five districts of Penang.
Last Sunday, Penang welcomed the arrival of 16,000 vaccine doses to the state.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme saw Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin becoming the first vaccine recipient recently, alongside frontliners in the first phase carried out until April.
The second phase will be conducted between April and August this year for senior citizens aged 60 and above and high-risk groups.
The third phase, for those aged 18 and above, will start in May this year and is expected to be completed in February next year.
The government plans to vaccinate at least 80 per cent of the population, or around 26.6 million people, in the country's biggest vaccination drive ever.