JOHOR BARU: Johoreans have welcomed the government’s decision to kick-start the walk-in inoculation initiative at 21 vaccination centres (PPV).

       Businessman Tan You Chiang hoped the initiative would speed up the vaccination process and allow more businesses to reopen.

       “It’s definitely a positive move as more people get vaccinated, the faster we can revive the economy.

       “Most workers, especially foreign workers, have yet to be vaccinated. With the walk-in initiative, I believe we could get more people vaccinated,” he said.

       Tan, 49, from Pontian, where five PPV are now accepting walk-ins, urged the authorities to monitor the situation there.

       “There were crowds building up at some of the PPV in Pontian on the first day of the walk-in initiative but on the following days, the number dwindled,” he said.

       Johor Indian Muslim Entrepreneurs Association (Perusim) secretary Hussein Ibrahim said the government could implement the walk-in initiative in Johor Baru.

       “It is a good move. I hope it can be done as there is a higher population there.

       “For now, Perusim has also been helping to provide the names of our members and their workers who have yet to be vaccinated to the Health Department.

       “We hope that this could help to speed up the vaccination process,” he said.

       Stall owner Norashidah Salleh, 28, said the initiative would allow more businesses to resume.

       “Most stall owners are opting to restart operations once they’ve got both doses of the vaccine.

       “With the walk-in initiative, more people could receive their jabs and this would enable them to earn a living,” she said.

       Yesterday, the state government announced that a total of 21 PPV in eight districts would allow walk-in inoculations.

       State health and environment committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said three PPV would be open for walk-ins in Kulai, Segamat (three), Tangkak (one), Muar (one), Batu Pahat (five), Pontian (five), Mersing (two) and Kluang (one).

       The PPV involved are Dewan Raya Bandar Putra, Felda Bukit Batu (mobile PPV) and Kg Melayu (mobile PPV) in Kulai, Dewan Serbaguna Jalan Genuang, Dewan Serbaguna Taman Yayasan and Dewan Serbaguna Labis in Segamat, Dewan Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara in Tangkak and Dewan Jubli Intan Muar in Muar.

       Others are Dewan Jubli Intan Batu Pahat, Dewan Terbuka Taman Hajjat, Dewan Makmur Rengit, Dewan Serbaguna Sri Sulong and Dewan Orang Ramai Parit Raja in Batu Pahat, Dewan Jubli Intan Pontian, Dewan Serbaguna Benut, Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail, Dewan Perpat Timbul and KK Kayu Ara Pasong in Pontian.

       In Mersing, the PPV involved are Dewan Jubli Intan Mersing and Politeknik Mersing while in Kluang, Dewan Muafakat Simpang Renggam will allow walk-ins.

       Of the 21 PPV, five have started the walk-in initiative between Sept 2 and 3, six were operating from yesterday while the remaining 10 would begin between Sept 5 and 13.

       Vidyananthan urged the public not to cross state borders to get to the PPV involved.

       “They could still receive their vaccines through the MySejahtera app. All existing PPV are actively carrying out the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme,” he said.

       Earlier, the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force updated the latest walk-in initiative for states, including Johor.

       Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said those in Johor could walk in at selected PPV in their districts.

       Based on the statistics from the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply, about 82% of the adult population in Johor had received the first dose while 51.5% were fully vaccinated as of Friday.