SEREMBAN (Bernama): The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) is optimistic that 80% of the Orang Asli in Negeri Sembilan will get to receive both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine by the end of next month.

       Jakoa Negeri Sembilan and Melaka director Shahrani Idderis said there are 8,470 Orang Asli in 69 settlements in the state who are eligible for the vaccination.

       As of Thursday (Aug 26), 4,021 of them have received their first dose of a vaccine with 3,415 of them having completed both doses of the vaccination, she told Bernama on Saturday (Aug 28).

       She said proactive measures were being taken by the department and the Health Department to coax the remaining 4,449 Orang Asli to agree to be vaccinated.

       "There are some who refused to be vaccinated even though they have been persuaded, saying that they are afraid, being influenced by the false information on the effects of the vaccine that is spread on the social media,” she added.

       According to Shahrani, so far, 449 Orang Asli have tested positive for Covid-19 and 12 of them have died.- Bernama