ISKANDAR PUTERI: Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim will be meeting around 800 teachers who reportedly refused the Covid-19 vaccination.

       In a tweet yesterday, Tunku Ismail said he will be meeting them soon.

       He said he will be calling the state Education Department director for a meeting on the issue, too.

       “Our priority right now is to overcome this pandemic as soon as possible so that the rakyat and state can go back to what it was and continue their lives like normal,” he added.

       Earlier, Johor education, information, heritage and culture committee chairman Mazlan Bujang told the Johor state assembly that 779 teachers had declined the Covid-19 vaccination.

       He said the state Education Department will be reaching out to the group to try and change their view.

       “The state government will call the 779 teachers who rejected the vaccine individually and give them information and counselling so that they will understand how important it is, as schools will be reopening in phases in October,” he said in reply to a question from Nor Hayati Bachok (PH-Maharani).

       Mazlan added that the latest data from the state Education Department showed that out of the 48,008 teachers in Johor, 96.26% (or 45,448) have received the first dose of the vaccine, while 50.29% (or 23,746) have completed their vaccination.

       “Out of the 7,152 staffers under the Anggota Kumpulan Pelaksana in the state, 6,539 (or 91.43%) have received their first dose while 2,816 (or 39.37%) have completed their vaccination.

       “Out of the 12,919 operational support staffers, 9,236 (or 71.49%)have recieved their first dose, while 7,030 (or 54.42%) have received both doses,” he said.

       Mazlan added that the state government fully supported efforts by the Education Department and Health Department to ensure the vaccination programme achieved the 100% target.