JOHOR BARU: Many are hoping the Persada Johor vaccination centre (PPV) will continue operating after Oct 15 to speed up the vaccination drive.

       This, after a notice of the PPV’s closure on Oct 15 began making its rounds on social media a few days ago.

       Housewife M. Visahlani said apart from its strategic location, the large space inside the building makes it a convenient for vaccinations.

       “My sons are supposed to get their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Oct 19 there but now that it is going to close on Oct 15, I am not sure where they would get their jabs,” she said.

       “I hope to get an update on the location for their second dose soon.”

       Persada Johor PPV Mohd Amin Kadiman when contacted confirmed that the centre would close from Oct 15 onwards and those with appointments after the date would be given a new location.

       “They will be informed of the new location for the second-dose via MySejahtera.

       “The PPV will stop operating as over 90% of the adult population has received at least one dose,” he said.

       Mohd Amin said the Persada Johor PPV had administered over half a million doses of the Covid-19 vaccines since opening on June 7.

       In Shah Alam, it was a bittersweet moment for Ideal Convention Centre PPV manager Dr Nur Es Naini Awalludin when the venue shut its doors at 5pm yesterday after final doses were administered.

       “I am going to miss the personnel and volunteers because we have become close over the months.

       “Since it opened its doors on May 24, 570,359 people have been vaccinated at the PPV.

       “It was truly an eye-opening experience and a historical event for all of us,’’ she said, adding that she would now go back to her duties at the Petaling district health office.

       Her biggest challenge, said Dr Nur Es Naini, was when the PPV had to close down for a day after 204 of its volunteers tested positive for Covid-19 on July 10.

       “I was manager for less than a week when the incident happened,” she said, adding that as everyone had been vaccinated at least once during the incident, none of those infected had severe symptoms and recovered quickly.

       Personnel and volunteers who were quarantined, she said, returned to their duties energised and with a stronger conviction to help the nation battle the pandemic.

       “There was a strong sense of togetherness after that experience at the PPV,’’ she added.