GEORGE TOWN: Penang will welcome the mobilisation of cabin crew as volunteers at Vaccine Administration Centres (PPVs) to support and expedite the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said Firefly had engaged with him to express their interest in helping Penang achieve herd immunity by supplying cabin crew to coordinate on-ground work at the state's upcoming PPVs.
"This strategy will complement the increase of PPVs in the state such as the mega PPVs, private hospitals and clinics, as announced recently by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow after visiting several newly-operating PPVs.
"I believe these cabin crew will make an excellent group of volunteers, having been trained professionally in terms of hospitality, communication skills and people management," he said today, following his virtual meeting with Firefly chief executive officer Philip See last Friday.
Yeoh said manpower and other relevant resources needed to grow in tandem with the amount of PPVs ramped up by the Penang government to ensure smooth and optimal delivery in this vaccination rollout.
"We commend Firefly for supporting the NIP, the state and of course, the people.
"The responsibility to battle the pandemic does not lie entirely in the hands of the government.
"In fact, an effective 3P partnership (Public-Private-People) is what we need," he added.
According to Yeoh, Firefly has successfully started this plan in the Klang Valley, and is looking into making Penang its northern regional hub, which will ensure ample supply of manpower.