Some 2,744 maritime industry workers are receiving their COVID-19 jabs at the dedicated vaccination centre (PPVIN) established in Ritz Garden Hotel in Manjung, starting today (August 12).
The PPVIN is a joint effort between Vale Malaysia Minerals, a mining company, along with the Malaysian Marine Department (Northern Region) (JLM (WU)), Ministry of Transport (MOT), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and Ministry of Health (MOH).
According to the Director of JLM (WU), Mohd Hafiz Abdul Majid, the 2,744 individuals to be inoculated via the PPVIN is from the 8,000 plus maritime workers registered for vaccination in the northern region, e.g. Perak and Penang.
“Maritime workers have been working 24 hours every day since the Movement Control Order (MCO) implementation last year in providing service to ensure that necessities reach consumers.
“This PPVIN will be able to administer up to 600 doses per day, hence JLM (WU) aims to achieve herd immunity among maritime workers in the northern region by the end of this month.
“It’ll take five days to complete the first doses. The second will be given 21 days later.
“As such, the vaccination programme is crucial in guaranteeing smooth operations of the port as an additional layer of protection against COVID-19.”
He told reporters during a media session at the PPVIN today.
Also present was the chief executive officer of Vale in Malaysia, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Araújo, who said that the programme will relieve burdens of the local vaccination infrastructure in Manjung.
“Vale has committed a total of up to RM430,000 to the vaccination programme.
“Apart from maritime workers, beneficiaries also include employees of Vale, their family members, business partners and others from 17 companies registered for the programme.
“This allows the government to facilitate running public PPVs focusing on inoculating the rest of the population here, particularly those who are more vulnerable.
“We believe that vaccinations contribute towards continued viability of the maritime industry in Manjung,” he added.
Chris Teh
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