GEORGE TOWN: Penang has seen more than 10 per cent of its population fully vaccinated.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said according to the report from the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV) under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP), the state had achieved 10.1 per cent vaccination as of 11.59pm yesterday.
"This means we have achieved three threshold indicators as set under the National Recovery Plan (NRP) to move to the second phase.
"I have been informed that the relevant ministry has started discussions for Penang to move to the subsequent phase, which will be tabled at the National Security Council (NSC)'s special session tomorrow," he said today.
Speaking in a virtual meeting organised by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Penang (FMM Penang) on the "Status of Vaccination in Penang" yesterday, Chow said Penang was confident of moving into the second phase of the NRP by next week when 10 per cent of its population obtained their second dose of vaccination.
He also said that Penang was expected to receive 591,523 doses of vaccine under the NIP this month and in August.
It was reported yesterday that Perlis, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang would be among the first states in the country to move into Phase Two of the NRP starting tomorrow.
This followed the decision by the NSC to allow the states to transit into the next phase of the NRP once they met the respective threshold indicators for each of the phases.
Among the changes for the states entering the second phase include more activities for the trade and distribution sectors.
Chow said Penang's next objective was to see the 60 and above age group complete the vaccination process as soon as possible before it moves on to target the 60 and below age group this month.
"Penang will see better days ahead as it has been promised more supply of vaccines this month.
"In fact, now is the case of a balancing act between the vaccination centres' (PPV) capabilities and also the vaccines that the state will be able to receive," he added.