JEMPOL: The Covid-19 drive-through vaccination centre (PPV) at the Jempol district office hall has made it possible for the residents here to get their vaccine jabs faster and in a safer manner, says an official.

       Jempol district PPV coordinator Dr Ismul Adham Zaini said the drive-through centre has helped senior citizens, persons with disabilities and those in wheelchairs as they need not have to wait long to get their jabs.

       He said the drive-through began operating on Thursday, with around 170 to 200 people receiving their jabs within a three-hour period.

       He added that they planned to seek the State Health Department’s approval to continue with the drive-through for the second-dose jabs as it had proven to be effective.

       The drive-through PPV is a joint initiative by the District Health Office, Jempol Parliamentary Office and Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda), which is the agency tasked with assisting with the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme in rural areas.

       Risda chairman Datuk Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif, who was also present at the drive-through PPV, said it would expand the drive-through programme to smallholders in rural and interior areas, including in Cameron Highlands and the east-coast states.

       “Apart from that, we will also enter Felcra areas by mobilising Risda assets to take senior citizens as well as those who are poor and do not have their own transport to the designated PPV, ” he said.

       In another development, Mohd Salim, who is also the Jempol MP, said he would use the RM300, 000 allocated to every MP to carry out the Food Basket Aid programme to distribute about 7, 000 food baskets to those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in the area, including the Orang Asli.

       “We have been distributing food baskets since the beginning of the pandemic.

       “Those whose livelihoods have been affected can contact the public service centre and food will be delivered to their homes within 24 hours, ” he said.

       The allocation was announced under the National People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (Pemulih) recently. — Bernama