RANTAU PANJANG: Those living in flood-prone areas in Kelantan started to receive their Covid-19 vaccine doses today.
The first batch of 200 villagers received their first vaccine doses during an outreach programme held at Masjid Beijing, here.
The programme was jointly organised between the state health department, the Civil Defence Force (APM) and other relevant authorities.
Pasir Mas APM officer Captain Mohd Arif Mohd Zain said the 200 villagers were among flood victims in Rantau Panjang and Pasir Mas areas who were identified to be vaccinated.
"Today's programme started at 9am and ended around 2pm. 200 people are expected to be vaccinated during the first series today.
"The remaining will receive their doses in the upcoming programmes," he added.
Maroyah Mat Salleh said he was happy to be selected as one of the 200 villagers to receive the vaccine today.
"As a flood victim, I am glad that the Government decided to organise the outreach programme to flood victims here as this will protect us from being infected especially when we are forced to move to flood relief centres during the monsoon season," he said when met at the programme.
The 50-year-old father of six said his other family members including his wife, however, had yet to be vaccinated.
Housewife Wan Esah Wan Mamat, 45, thanked the Government, particularly the state health department for organising the programme at her village.
"Many of us especially flood victims are waiting for this moment as we are afraid if the monsoon season arrives before we receive the vaccine, it will be a problem to us as well as the health department," said the mother of three from Kampung Bagus here.
The 200 who received the vaccine jabs today were from various areas in Rantau Panjang and Pasir Mas and they are expected to receive their second jabs on July 17.
Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP) coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin was reported to have said recently that at least 80 per cent of the population in east coast states are expected to be vaccinated ahead of the monsoon floods.
He said efforts were underway to reschedule the vaccination process on the east coast to have it at least 80 per cent complete by the end of October.