KOTA KINABALU: The supply of vaccines to Sabah should be expedited as the state continues to register high numbers of new Covid-19 cases daily.

       Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said based on data from the Special Committee on Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV), the vaccination rate in Sabah is lower than other states, which is worrying.

       In a statement on Wednesday (July 21), he said the vaccination target would be hard to achieve without sufficient supply despite the state efforts to open more vaccination centres (PPVs) and organise mobile outreach programmes to remote areas.

       Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham had tweeted earlier Wednesday that Terengganu and Sabah were the states with the highest infectivity rate (R0) on Tuesday (July 20), with Terengganu registering 1.31 and Sabah, 1.25.

       Bung said that the JKJAV needed to act immediately and send vaccines to Sabah to reduce gap with other states.

       "We want to ensure immunisation is extended to more people. The health and welfare of Sabahans must have priority" said Bung, who is also state Works Minister.