SEPANG: Malaysia's vaccination rate has seen a dramatic ramp-up despite a slow start.
According to Oxford University's Our World in Data website, Malaysia's daily Covid-19 vaccine administered per 100 people in the population stood at 1.65 on Aug 2.
The rate was significantly higher compared with other countries such as Singapore, which stood at 1.09 up to Aug 1, Turkey (0.98), Japan (0.77), South Korea (0.74), Canada (0.6), the European Union (0.52), the United Kingdom (0.31 up to Aug 1) and the United States (0.2).
Malaysia dispensed a total of 468,526 doses on Monday and 480,112 doses the day before, on Aug 1.
Last month, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme had successfully rolled out a highest daily vaccination rate of more than 500,000 doses.
He said this achievement was in line with the set target and must be further enhanced so that the target of 26 million Malaysians receiving a complete vaccination can be achieved.
Malaysia recorded its highest daily jabs administered at 556,404 on July 29, while the previous highest record was 553,871 doses on July 27.
A total of 21,668,999 doses have been administered up to Aug 2 since Malaysia kicked off the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP) on Feb 24.
Meanwhile, the walk-in vaccination initiative for individuals aged 40 and above and those with comorbidities in Klang Valley continues to receive the thumbs-up from the public.
The initiative, which moved into its second day yesterday, saw those eligible turning up at their nearest vaccination centre (PPV) that offered walk-in facilities.
At the Mövenpick Hotel & Convention Centre PPV near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here, individuals came as early as 1.30pm to get vaccinated, despite walk-in vaccinations starting only at 2pm.
Among them was Mohd Khaidir Abdul Ghani, 43, from Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi.
Khaidir said he decided to walk in for the vaccination after his company required workers to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
He had just registered for a vaccination appointment recently and was waiting for his turn to get vaccinated.
"Since I just registered for vaccination, I will have to wait for my turn as many who had registered earlier have yet to get their appointments.
"However, when the government announced that those aged 40 and above who have yet to get their appointment date can walk in for vaccination starting Monday, I decided to come here and get inoculated.
"This is in many ways better than waiting for my appointment date via MySejahtera."
Khaidir said he came early to avoid large crowds.
"However, it is very organised here and I didn't have to wait long for my turn."
C. Morganaa said her employer encouraged all employees to get inoculated to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at the workplace.
"When the walk-in vaccination was announced recently, my boss encouraged those aged 40 and above and who have yet to get their appointments to walk in rather than wait for an appointment date via MySejahtera.
"At first, I was afraid to get vaccinated, but seeing how the Covid-19 infectivity trend has been increasing of late and how fast it spreads, I realised that I should get vaccinated."
Morganaa said the process was smooth and that she was allowed to wait in the waiting area near the registration counter before it opened at 2pm.
"It didn't take long for my turn to get vaccinated."
Hasmira Abu Hassan, 39, said she had initially registered for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
However, her doctor had suggested that she get either Pfizer or Sinovac due to her medical condition.
"Because of that, I cancelled my previous appointment and was waiting for a new appointment date.
"When the government announced the walk-in vaccination, I quickly made my way here," said Hasmira, who is from Cheras.
Mövenpick Hotel & Convention Centre PPV coordinator Dr Noraziah Abdul Karim said 315 individuals walked in to be vaccinated on Monday.
She said 1,120 vaccine doses were allocated for walk-ins at the centre daily.
"Most of the walk-ins comprised those living nearby and who have yet to get an appointment via MySejahtera, as well as those who have yet to register for vaccination."