KUCHING: Industrial vaccination centres are being set up in workplaces in Sarawak to speed up the Covid-19 vaccination for employees in various sectors.

       Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the move was aimed at addressing workplace clusters, besides helping to achieve the target of completing the vaccination programme by August.

       He said 25 new workplace clusters were detected from May 29 to June 24, involving 1,765 positive cases.

       "From these clusters, the infection can potentially spread outside the workplace when the employees return home after work.

       "So the state disaster management committee has decided that vaccinations will be done at workplaces," he told reporters after visiting the industrial vaccination centre at Longi (Kuching) Sdn Bhd on Friday (June 25).

       Abang Johari said industrial vaccination centres had been set up at several manufacturing companies and shopping malls for employees.

       He said the first centre was set up at Press Metal Sdn Bhd in Bintulu last week for manufacturing sector employees at the Samalaju Industrial Park.

       In Kuching, he said five major companies at the Samajaya High Tech Park, including Longi, had signed up for the industrial vaccination programme.

       Vaccination centres have also been set up at The Spring and Vivacity malls here for employees, retailers and other companies approved by the state Covid-19 immunisation task force.

       "We will go to other sectors after this, including services and tourism. We will also roll out vaccination for plantations," Abang Johari added.

       The Longi vaccination centre, which opened on Thursday (June 24), will inoculate its employees and vendors, as well as staff of smaller companies around Samajaya.

       It is targeting 2,724 vaccinations over four days until Sunday (June 27).

       Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said industries were encouraged to participate in the industrial vaccination programme.

       He said companies with less than 1,500 employees could collaborate to set up a vaccination centre.

       "This vaccination programme is free to the workers. The infrastructure and healthcare workers will be arranged by the companies and the costs will be borne by them," he said.

       Under the industrial vaccination programme, companies will bear the cost of healthcare organisers at RM15 per dose, while the vaccine is provided free by the government.