PONTIAN: High rental for mega Covid-19 vaccination centres (PPV) is the reason why the Health Ministry decided to shut them down on March 16, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

       He said they found these centres, usually involving large convention halls, were too expensive.

       “We have to pay to use them and now, there is no longer a need to keep operating from these integrated or mega PPV.

       “Using smaller settings such as private or health clinics is sufficient,” he told reporters after a visit to the Serkat Health Clinic in Kukup near here yesterday.According to Bernama, Khairy said that there were now fewer Covid-19 vaccine recipients as the majority of the population had been inoculated.

       “In Johor alone, over 70% have received their booster shots and as for the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids), it can be done in schools,” he said.

       On Saturday, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced that all mega PPV would close on March 16.

       He said until that date, the PPV at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil and the World Trade Centre would remain open for walk-ins.