KOTA KINABALU: Future shipments of Covid-19 vaccines meant for Sabah should be sent directly here without transiting at Kuala Lumpur to prevent diversion of the supply to other states, says Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee.

       His suggestion comes amid Sabah trying to pick up its vaccination pace in view of rising cases.

       Referring to the arrival of 200,000 dose of a single-dose Covid-19 vaccine in Malaysia via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Friday morning, he said:

       “The Chief Minister had earlier said in a statement that Sabah had applied for 1.8 million doses of the CanSino vaccine.

       “I suggest that the supply be sent directly from Beijing to Kota Kinabalu without having to go through KLIA.

       “This is to avoid the possibility of the vaccine being sent elsewhere,” Yong said.

       As of Aug 20, only 19.8% of the total population in Sabah have been fully vaccinated, the slowest among the states and far below the national rate of 38%.

       Yong said the CanSino vaccine would be able to speed up the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme in Sabah, especially for those living in the interior as well as those who have difficulty accessing vaccination centres in nearby towns.

       The single-dose vaccine will avoid the hassle of having to commute twice to get the jab, which was required for two-dose vaccines, he added.