JOHOR BARU: The Johor government will be taking several measures to address the vaccine shortage faced by the Educity vaccination centre (PPV) which has forced it to cancel vaccine appointments for factory workers.

       This comes following a meeting between Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim with several state leaders including Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad.

       Following the meeting, the Educity PPV, which is under the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (Pikas) and regulated by the International Trade and Industry Ministry, will get 70,000 doses of vaccine on Thursday (Sept 2).

       "The state government, in collaboration with Johor Health Department and local community leaders, will start an IPA-C (Covid-19 Advocacy Leaders Initiative) to carry out health education activities, standard operating procedure compliance and help conduct targeted screening test," Tunku Ismail said in a statement on his Facebook page on Monday (Aug 30).

       He added that the state government has also provided a larger tent for the Covid-19 Temporary Treatment Centre in front of the Emergency and Trauma Department of the Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Baru.

       Tunku Ismail said the state Health Department has kicked off a virtual Covid-19 Assessment Centre service system to allow patients to get health services at their respective homes.

       "I hope this meeting will open avenues for solutions to the issues faced by the vaccination programme in the state so that the people can get vaccinated as soon as possible," he said.