KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's relatively low vaccination rate in areas like Sandakan, Tawau and Kinabatangan could be due to both geographical factors and inaccurate census information, says Dr Rose Nani Mudin.

       The Sabah Health Department director said that outreach efforts are underway to get into hard-to-reach interior areas.

       She added that when those in remote areas are found and identified, only a few hundred can be vaccinated due to the age group and population there.

       Dr Rose said going into remote areas is not the same as vaccination centres, where one centre can administer up thousands of jabs per day.

       She added that the population census figures had changed, adding that the authorities believe that many names listed might have migrated to other towns or Peninsular Malaysia.

       She said there was also a possibility that many non-citizens in these areas are afraid to come out and get vaccinated for fear of legal repercussions.

       She also did not discount the possibility of anti-vaxxer activities or people influencing the communities to avoid the vaccines.

       On Thursday, state Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that travel in and out of the state's nine districts – including the more urbanised Tawau and Sandakan districts – would not be allowed until at least 60% of the adult population was fully vaccinated.

       The seven others are semi-rural Kinabatangan, Telupid, Tongod, Kalabakan, Papar, Semporna and Nabawan.

       As of Friday (Oct 1), Sabah allowed inter-district travels for the remaining 18 districts that had hit the 60% threshold, within five identified zones, which are Zone 1 comprising Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan, Tuaran, Ranau and Kota Belud districts, Zone 2 (Beaufort, Sipitang and Kuala Penyu), Zone 3 (Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas and Beluran), Zone 4 (Lahad Datu and Kunak), and Zone 5 (Keningau, Tambunan and Tenom).