By Sheeda Fathil
SHAH ALAM, Dec 1 — The state government is planning to offer the Selangor Vaccine (Selvax) stock surplus to foreign workers who have yet to be inoculated.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said asides from this, the authorities are also considering the proposal to sell the vaccine surplus to other countries.
"With the spread of Covid-19 at the present, vaccine injections are still necessary but not in large quantities. Selvax could also become part of the state's contribution to other localities.
"We must bear in mind with the opening of the border in the future, we can also offer it to foreign workers, particularly construction workers who may not have been vaccinated yet," he said.
Amirudin was responding to a query from Sijangkang state assemblyman Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi on the Selvax programme, during the State Legislative Assembly sitting, earlier today.
The Menteri Besar said the lifespan of vaccines is to three years, which is until next year or early 2024.
In June last year, the state government allocated over RM200 million to implement Selvax Komuniti and Selvax Industri, to complete and expedite the inoculation process in the state.
Selvax Komuniti is meant for the elderly, low-income groups and beneficiaries of the Inisiatif Peduli Rakyat scheme, whereas Selvax Industri is focused on workers, including foreigners.
The initiative was carried out on September 12, via buses and vans to ensure that no Selangor citizens miss out on getting vaccinated. Subsequently, on October 7, Selvax Remaja was launched, followed by Selvax Booster.
During the sitting, state executive councillor for public health Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said approximately 684,259 vaccine doses have been used for the Selvax programme, up to October 18.
She said the vaccination rate, including for high booster doses, exceeded 90 percent of the total population in the state, which has managed to aid the Selangor government curb Covid-19 infections.
