PASIR MAS: More than 300 villagers in the rural areas here and Rantau Panjang have registered for the Covid-19 vaccination.
This villagers, mostly elderly people, have agreed to receive the vaccination during the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) carried out by the state Civil Defence Force.
Pasir Mas Civil Defence Force (APM) officer Captain Mohd Arif Mohd Zain said the figure was recorded between March 14 and today.
He said about 30 members of the force took part in the programme which aimed to help communities register for the vaccination.
"Our members have been going from one rural area to another to help villagers especially old folks to register for the vaccination.
"Since Sunday, majority of the people they have met did not have smartphones while others have limited knowledge on how to use the MySejahtera.
"Therefore, they were asked to help these people register their names either via the app or manually," he said.
Apart from helping the rural people register, Mohd Arif said Civil Defence Force members will also explain to the rural folks on the importance of getting the Covid-19 injection.
Meanwhile, several old folks praised the move by the Government directing volunteers to help them in the registration.
Odd-job worker Mat Yusuf Che Lah, 80, said he had yet to register his name for the vaccination because all his four children are living outside Kelantan.
"I would like to thank APM for visiting me and other villagers and later helping us in the registration," said Mat Yusuf when met at Kampung Banggol Manok here.
Another villager Adam Mat Rashid, 50, said he was relieved that he managed to register his name to receive the vaccine doses.
"I am suffering from asthma and not sure whether I can receive the vaccine or not. However, I do not mind to give my name to the APM members as I believe the vaccine is important for old people like me," said the father of nine.
It was reported recently that 10,000 members and volunteers from the Civil Defence Force will be mobilised to help in the NIP.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof had said a large group would be deployed to rural areas to help communities register for the vaccination, either via the MySejahtera application or manually.
The government launched the NIP on Feb 24. Under its first phase, vaccines are being administered for free to frontliners.
The second phase of the NIP beginning April until August will involve senior citizens aged 60 and above, those with comorbidities as well as the disabled, among others.
The NIP's third phase between May and February 2022 will be for adults aged 18 and above.