ALOR GAJAH: It took almost a week for family members to persuade 92-year-old Puchat Lubak, believed to be the oldest resident in the Bukit Payung Orang Asli Village, to finally agree to be given the Covid-19 vaccine.

       She received the vaccine jab at the Mobile Vaccination Centre that went to the village on Tuesday (July 6).

       Puchat was accompanied to the centre by her granddaughter Asiah Jegap, 37, and her condition was closely monitored by healthcare workers after she received the shot.

       Puchat claims to be more than 100 years old, although her identity card states her birth year as 1929.

       She said she agreed to receive the vaccine because she was scared of being infected.

       “The injection is not painful at all,” she said in the Temuan tribe's dialect, with Asiah serving as translator.

       Asiah said she and other family members took almost a week to persuade Puchat to get vaccinated.

       “She believes in traditional medicine and has been relying on herbs to keep healthy.

       "She finally agreed after we told her that that Covid-19 is becoming more serious,” she added.

       Another villager, Rami Song Song, 62, also agreed to be given the vaccine despite her fear of needles after being coaxed by her children.

       “My children said there is nothing to be afraid of, and after thinking about the safety of my children and grandchildren, I decided to get the vaccine,” she added.

       A total of 314 Orang Asli in the village received their first dose of the Sinovac vaccine under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme at the Mara Liner mobile vaccination centre.

       In KOTA BARU, a married couple, both persons with disabilities, also expressed their happiness at finally being vaccinated at a mobile centre that came to their area.

       Mohd Nawi Yusof, 67, bedridden since 2012 from a spinal problem, and his wife Kamariah Saad, 65, who had her right leg amputated due to diabetes, said they had been waiting to get the first dose for some time.

       "I am used to injections and am not afraid of needles," Mohd Nawi said on Monday (July 5).

       "I felt so relieved when informed by the Kelantan Foundation for People With Disabilities (Yokuk) we would be getting the vaccine.

       "It is important to get the vaccination, whether you are sick or healthy. It is a preventive measure,” added the government retiree when met at Yokuk in Pengkalan Chepa here after an immunisation exercise for persons with disabilities.

       Mohd Nawi and Kamariah were picked up from their house in Taman Seri Pengkalan Chepa and brought to Yokuk in a van provided by the foundation.

       The programme was also attended by Yokuk chief operating officer Sulaini Mat Il and Kota Baru district health officer Dr Izamin Idris.

       Sulaini said a total of 280 persons with disabilities from several districts received their first dose of vaccine on Monday. – Bernama