KUCHING: The capacity of the Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Indoor Stadium here will be increased once more vaccines arrive, says Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the venue was currently able to handle 1,600 people a day.
“We want to push it up to 2,000 or even 2,500.
“The operating hours are up to 5pm now, but when more vaccines come we will extend the time to give more people in Kuching the opportunity to get vaccinated,” he told reporters after visiting the stadium to observe improvements in the vaccination system on Thursday (May 20).
Uggah also said more vaccination centres would be opened in Kuching to boost the immunisation programme.
He said the city had an estimated 570,000 people who were eligible to receive the vaccine.
“We want to make sure we can cope, so we will increase the vaccine administration centres,” he said.
Uggah also said separate vaccination centres would be set up for the AstraZeneca opt-in programme as it was not part of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
“This is a separate exercise on a voluntary first come, first served basis,” he said, adding that the state disaster management committee was having a meeting with federal authorities to coordinate it.
It was announced earlier this week that the AstraZeneca opt-in programme will be extended to Johor, Penang and Sarawak when the second round of registrations starts on May 23.
On the improved vaccination system at the Indoor Stadium, Uggah said it was now more orderly with clear signboards and smooth flow of people.
“It’s a very systematic way for the public to come in for vaccination. They know where to go, the flow inside is very smooth and there is no issue with physical distancing.
“This will be the model we want to use for other vaccination centres throughout Sarawak,” he said.
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