LABUAN: The vaccination drive in this duty-free-island is reaching its peak with 82% of the total adult population having registered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme via the MySejahtera app.

       This federal territory is among the top four states in the country to record the highest percentage of people registered for vaccination, alongside Putrajaya (100%), Kuala Lumpur (100%) and Selangor (82.34%), while neighbouring Sabah has the lowest at only 30.88%.

       Labuan Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) chairman Rithuan Ismail said the high percentage of registration showed the people’s awareness towards the importance of immunisation.

       “It means we have a really broad view of the impact of vaccination among the local folk.

       ‘’The posting of vaccination experiences on various social media platforms is also a way of normalising vaccination and this encourages the people to register,” he said.

       Rithuan said the opening of a new vaccination centre at the Labuan Matriculation College utilising the walk-in method (manual registration through people’s representative councils) had greatly helped expedite the vaccination process and that this also had helped boost the people’s confidence.He said the walk-in vaccination method had been extended to the existing PPV at Dewan Sri JKR for nearby villagers and residents.

       “The great thing about the high percentage is that we are able to see the incredibly positive effect of the vaccination exercise, where so many vaccines have been rolled out across the country, and very soon, we will be able to travel, visit family members and feel safe,” he said.

       On June 21, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also coordinating minister for the national immunisation programme, said the government was currently studying the feasibility of lifting several restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals such as allowing them to travel interstate.

       Rithuan said the councils were actively initiating vaccination campaigns in the densely populated zones and distributing vaccination appointment coupons to the people as part of Labuan CITF’s efforts to speed up vaccination to achieve its target of herd immunity by mid-July.

       “The local media also plays an effective role in assisting us to spread the positive news on vaccination, be it on their official portals or personal social media platforms.

       “Sharing vaccination stories is a way of normalising vaccination, of being transparent about the experience and encouraging friends to do the same,” Rithuan said. — Bernama