WHILE most Malaysian states are enjoying a higher number of vaccine registration than in previous months, a low number of vaccine registration in Sabah might hinder Malaysia’s progress in inoculating 80% of the country’s population (nearly 27 million out of 32 million Malaysians) by year-end.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM)’s Demographic Statistics First Quarter 2021, Sabah has the second largest state population (3.9 million) after Selangor (6.6 million).
As of July 10, only 34.1%, or 939,380 individuals out of 2.8 million qualified population (above 18 years old) in Sabah, have registered via the MySejahtera application for vaccination. It is relatively far behind the next lowest Malaysian state, Kelantan, at 55.78% as of July 11, according to the statistics released by the COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV).
Such a figure is also far behind the neighbouring state, Sarawak, which has registered 83.71% as of July 11, according to JKJAV.
The number of vaccine registration also differs by districts. As of July 10, urban districts, for instance, Putatan, Penampang and Kota Kinabalu, have received 80.4%, 73.7% and 46.1% registration respectively.
On the other hand, rural districts like Nabawan, Kinabatangan and Tongod only have obtained 12.1%, 10.5% and 9.8% registration correspondingly.
Diagram 1 further reveals different vaccine registration levels across all districts in Sabah as of July 10.
Even though Sabah only records less than 300 Covid-19 cases on average daily, a low number of vaccine registration in Sabah might deter Sabahans the chance to enjoy normalcy sooner.
According to the Economic Action Council (EAC) secretariat, more than 600,000 households who were initially in the middle 40% (M40) income group have slipped into the bottom 40% (B40) category.
Although the data does not indicate the income reduction among Sabahans in particular, it is undeniable that many Sabahans are still struggling to recover from the effects of the strict restrictions imposed since mid-March last year.
This is especially apparent when Sabah recorded the highest infection rate from the Benteng Lahad Datu cluster, with confirmed cases reaching 300 a day after the nomination day for the Sabah state snap election on September 12 last year.
The closure of domestic and international borders also led to more temporary outlet closures, empty shop units and rental signs have displayed along the streets, particularly in the city centre of Kota Kinabalu.
Given Sabah, the poorest state in Malaysia has recorded a poverty rate of 19.5% based on the 2019 Poverty Line Income, this could result in more than 615,000 Sabahans slipping into absolute poverty especially with a majority of low-skilled workers who purely rely on daily wages to survive and have no savings.
Indeed, it is challenging for the JKJAV to mobilise many vaccine corps volunteers driving through muddy, uneven roads besides taking a boat ride to reach the remote populations who live beyond 5km of any health care facility within Sabah. However, with greater coordination between the federal government and the Sabah state government, more residents based in remote areas eventually would be aware of the importance of vaccination.
For ensuring effective outreach programmes for residents in rural and remote areas, government agencies could work with non-governmental bodies and vaccine corps by preparing short and simple messages on the steps and potential side effects of immunisation in the form of leaflets, in addition to information disseminated through newspapers and magazines. They could explain the importance of vaccination while distributing leaflets through house-to-house visits.
Besides medical, nursing and pharmacy students, vaccine corps could be formed by community grassroots, comprised of retired or unemployed clinicians. They could travel to remote villages and assist individuals who do not have internet access or digital gadgets to register for vaccination.
By mobilising vaccine corps on a large scale, the Sabah state government could expedite the vaccine registration process within the state, besides providing the chance for every Sabahan to receive vaccination sooner.
Despite the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) Handbook has outlined the usage of mobile vaccination clinics, most of the sites are within urban areas along with the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
To set up more mobile clinics, the current administration could consider renting empty community halls, universities, hotels and other appropriate facilities in different zones of each constituency. Not only respective owners could weather the health crisis, but it also provides convenience for residents to register vaccination.
As the current administration plans to station 15,000 officers in 950 vaccination centres throughout the country, some of them can be allocated to Sabah, giving extra helping hands in vaccine injection for the benefits of Sabahans.
In addition, the Sabah state government perhaps could provide food vouchers or cash payment for those who complete the vaccine registrations. It would help to boost the number of vaccine registration besides motivating more Sabahans to receive the vaccination.
The food vouchers or cash payment initiative is also applicable to illegal immigrants and foreign workers in Sabah. By including everyone in the vaccination programme, Sabah could gauge the right balance between lives and livelihoods, protecting citizens from any deadly epidemic.
Therefore, to overcome a low number of vaccine registration in Sabah, it is timely to have a real whole-of-society effort, going beyond the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and the National Security Council (NSC).
This would involve different stakeholders such as non-governmental bodies, corporations, schools, universities and private healthcare providers.
By marking and including all the semi-urban, rural and interior areas onto the map, Village Community Development Councils (MPKK), Community Development Officers (PPM), resident committees, councillors and community leaders could assist residents registering vaccination in their respective communities.
When the Sabah state government is committed to overcoming a low number of vaccine registration within the state, every resident in Sabah would be encouraged to do their part by registering their interest to be vaccinated.
Amanda Yeo is Research Analyst at EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.
** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
Amanda Yeo
Mon Jul 19 2021
Even though Sabah only records less than 300 COVID-19 cases on average daily, a low number of vaccine registration in Sabah might deter Sabahans the chance to enjoy normalcy sooner. - AP
Industri minyak sawit disaran guna semula sisa untuk bahan api penerbangan mampan - Liew
Industri minyak sawit perlu mengkaji penggunaan semula sisa sebagai stok suapan penting untuk bahan api penerbangan mampan (SAF), di luar penggunaan tradisional minyak sawit.
SDG: UTP lahir pelajar berkemahiran, tinggi tanggungjawab sosial
UTP berhasrat mendidik pelajar bukan sahaja untuk mahir dalam aspek teknikal tetapi juga untuk menjadi warganegara yang bertanggungjawab.
MAA semak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan 2024 kepada 765,000 unit
Persatuan Automotif Malaysia (MAA) telah menyemak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan bermotor baharu bagi 2024 kepada 765,000 unit daripada anggaran sebelumnya sebanyak 740,000 unit.
RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan
Apa sahaja pindaan terhadap akta itu perlu berjalan selari dengan persediaan mereka yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakannya.
Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA
SAMENTA menjangkakan rasionalisasi RON95 akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) berbanding pelarasan subsidi diesel.
Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030
Malaysia menyasarkan pengeluaran 40 peratus hasil sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 dalam usaha membantu mengimbangi keperluan perikanan negara.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Dakwaan dadah dijual seperti pisang goreng di Sabah keterlaluan - Polis
Pesuruhjaya Polis Sabah Datuk Jauteh Dikun menyifatkan dakwaan dadah dijual seperti 'pisang goreng' di Sabah sebagai satu kenyataan yang keterlaluan.
15 SST projek Lebuhraya Pan Borneo Fasa 1B dikeluarkan suku ketiga 2024
Sebanyak 15 Surat Setuju Terima (SST) kepada kontraktor bagi projek Lebuhraya Pan Borneo Sabah Fasa 1B dijangka dikeluarkan pada suku ketiga tahun ini, Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) diberitahu hari ini.
Kerajaan Sabah warta Hari Sabah pada 31 Ogos
Kerajaan Sabah mewartakan pengisytiharan Hari Sabah pada 31 Ogos.
Penari cilik Sabah bersinar di Tarian Piala Dunia, bawa pulang 3 pingat emas
Pelajar dari empat sekolah iaitu Sekolah Kebangsaan Mutiara, SK St. Agnes, SK Sri Gaya, dan SK Bundu berjaya membawa pulang dua perak dan dua pingat gangsa di Tarian Piala Dunia (DWC) di Prague
Projek bekalan air luar bandar Sabah, Sarawak tidak capai objektif - LKAN
Gangguan bekalan air di Sarawak dan Sabah yang tidak ditangani dengan baik menyebabkan penduduk luar bandar di dua negeri tersebut, masih tidak dapat menikmati bekalan air bersih dan terawat.
Bank Rakyat tawar moratorium sehingga 6 bulan kepada mangsa banjir di Sabah
Kemudahan ini ditawarkan bagi mengurangkan beban dan kesulitan yang dihadapi pelanggan sekali gus berharap dapat memberi kelegaan kepada mereka yang terjejas.
Miskin tegar: Kerajaan beri tumpuan kepada Sabah, Kelantan, Sarawak dan Kedah
Empat negeri didapati mempunyai peratusan kemiskinan tegar lebih tinggi daripada nasional iaitu Sabah, Kelantan, Sarawak dan Kedah.
Banjir: 10 sekolah di Sabah ditutup hari ini
Lebih 5,000 murid dan 307 guru terjejas, melibatkan enam sekolah di Penampang, dua di Tuaran, masing-masing satu di Papar dan Sipitang.
Program Sabah-Malaysia Rumah Keduaku terima permohonan mulai esok
Kabinet Negeri Sabah meluluskan program Sabah-Malaysia Rumah Keduaku (Sabah-MM2H) dan bersedia menerima permohonan daripada peserta mulai esok, 1 Julai.
SST 15 pakej kerja Lebuhraya Pan Borneo Sabah Fasa 1B dijangka dikeluarkan suku ketiga 2024 - Alexander
Sebanyak 15 daripada 19 pakej kerja bagi projek Lebuhraya Pan Borneo (LPB) Sabah Fasa 1B kini dalam proses penilaian akhir tender terbuka, persidangan Dewan Rakyat diberitahu hari ini.