KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 27 new vaccination centres (PPVs) has been approved for the construction, transport and manufacturing sectors, says Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

       Khairy, the coordinating minister of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, said the 27 PPV will be tasked with vaccinating 373,327 workers across the three sectors.

       “We might increase the number of industry PPV based on risk assessments and reports we receive.

       “If there is high risk in certain sectors, then we will divert vaccines to that particular sector,” he told a press conference after visiting the PPV at the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) convention centre in Cheras here yesterday.

       Also present was Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

       Khairy said the 27 industry PPV comprised five in Selangor; four in Penang; three each in Kuala Lumpur and Terengganu; two each in Johor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Pahang; and one each in Sabah, Putrajaya, Perak and Kedah.

       Fadillah said that 500 jabs will be administered daily in the first three days of operations at the CIDB convention centre under the Construction Industry Vaccination Programme (Civac) that kicked off yesterday, before it is gradually increased to 1,300 jabs a day.

       He also said the Works Ministry and CIDB will propose to the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) the idea of makeshift vaccination centres or mobile vaccination clinics at construction sites.

       “Many of these workers live at construction sites and it is difficult for them to come out,” said Fadillah, who added that more than one million workers in the construction sector have been signed up for vaccination, with 70% of them Malaysians.

       He also said Civac is a collaboration between the government and private sector to speed up the vaccination of construction workers.

       Under Civac, Fadillah said 80,000 doses of vaccine have been allocated for 40,000 workers in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor by the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee.

       He added that Selangor-based construction workers will get their doses under Civac at the National Panasonic Sports Complex at Shah Alam starting July 14.

       He also said Civac has received positive response since it was launched by CIDB on June 21.

       “All of the slots were fully booked in less than 24 hours. This shows that industry players in construction are very prepared to ensure that their workers are vaccinated against Covid-19,” he said.

       At the same time, Fadillah said it is estimated that more than two million doses of vaccines will be required to immunise construction workers nationwide.

       “In the Works Ministry, we hope the vaccination programme for the construction sector can be implemented quickly in order to ensure the construction sector can once again contribute to the economy,” he added.

       Fadillah said that due to the overwhelming response to Civac, the ministry has ordered an additional 200,000 doses for 100,000 construction workers for phase two of the programme, which will cover Penang, Johor and Pahang, and subsequently Sabah and Sarawak.

       “The Ministry will also increase the amount according to the needs of the construction sector.”