KOTA BHARU – The number of adults over 18 who have received their Covid-19 booster shots in Kelantan are still low, compared to the number of those eligible to get them.
State health director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin said the department has recorded 90,316 adults who have taken their booster shots as of yesterday.
He said the 90,316 represented 73.71 percent of adults in the state who are eligible for their third vaccine dose.
“Kota Bharu recorded the highest number with 12.19 percent of the adults having taken their booster doses, followed by Kuala Krai (5.50 per cent), Tanah Merah (5.36 percent), Bachok (5.35 percent), Pasir Puteh (5.24 percent) and Machang (5.21 percent).
“The other four areas in Kelantan all recorded under five percent,” he told reporters after visiting a Covid-19 vaccination centre here today.
Dr Zaini cited several reasons for the slow response. For example, many believed that the booster shot was not important and not necessary.
“Compared to the first and second doses which they believed were important as it would have prevented them from taking part in certain activities and even for inter-district and inter-state travels, taking the booster dose seems to not be really important for them.
“Many are willing to wait and will get the booster doses when they are ready,” he said.
Dr Zaini said the elderly as well as those with chronic disease are encouraged to take their booster shot as it would protect them from being infected and increase the body’s immunity.
To attract adults to get their booster shot, he said the department would increase its outreach programmes and campaign activities especially to the target groups.
“Apart from that, all government hospitals and health clinics throughout the state have been dispensing boosters shots to the public,” he added.
Over 70 health clinics in all 10 districts in Kelantan are administering Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for eligible adults.
Source: Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah (NST.COM.MY)
