JELI: A total of 40 Orang Asli pregnant and breastfeeding mothers were vaccinated at the Sungai Rual community hall today.
Jeli district health officer Dr Amirul Azman Abu Hassan said the women, between the ages of 21 and 27, received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine in an outreach programme held in the village.
Besides Kampung Sungai Rual, he said the 40 were from three nearby villages - Kampung Manok, Kampung Seberang and Kampung Kalok.
"The women who are between 14 and 33 weeks pregnant, including the breastfeeding mothers had to undergo proper health checks before they could be vaccinated," he told reporters at the outreach programme here today.
Also present was Jeli Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
Dr Amirul said the Orang Asli women accepted the inoculation as they realised the importance of taking the jabs.
"After listening to our campaigns and explanation on the risks of not taking the vaccination, they understood and agreed to be vaccinated.
"They also realised the reason for the Government to encourage people to get the vaccine," he said.