By Zareef Muzammil
GOMBAK, Aug 18 — The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) has collaborated with the state government to increase the vaccination rate among its students and staff.
Selangor Task Force for Covid-19 director Dr Mohammad Farhan said the first-ever collaboration between the Selangor Vaccination Programme (Selvax) with an institution of higher learning (IPT) targets to inoculate 2,500 individuals a day.
“This university is quite unique as it has a large number of the international community, with some coming from Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Thailand and Singapore.
“It is hoped that this initiative by the Selangor government with IIUM will be able to help the students and staffs who have yet to receive the Covid-19 vaccine to get themselves jabbed immediately,” he said when met here today.
The IIUM vaccination centre (PPV) began administering the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine yesterday from 9am to 5pm, and is in operation for only two days.
Dr Mohammad Farhan said they will be making plans to optimise the number of medical workers and volunteers for their return to IIUM to dispense the second dose of the vaccine.
“Insya Allah (God willing) the second dose can be administered in another three weeks. If all the participants could be assembled together we can finish it in just one day,” he said.
Meanwhile, IIUM PPV director Dr Muhammad Faris Abdullah said the programme had also attracted refugees and asylum seekers who are United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders.
“Although the priority is for students and staff, we cannot say no to the refugees and asylum seekers as well as residents living in the area, as most of them are facing problems in getting vaccinated.
“We need to act responsibly as a community in solving issues that affect the people. Previously we had worked with UNHCR in several areas and this time around we are helping the asylum seekers and refugees to get them vaccinated,” he said.
Dr Muhammad Faris said a total of 10,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses were allocated for the Selvax Community programme in IIUM.
He said 5,000 doses were allocated for yesterday and today’s immunisation programme, while the rest will be kept for the second dose inoculation.
“Yesterday we managed to vaccinate 1,000 students and staff who did not receive an appointment date through their MySejahtera app.
“Today we expect the number of participants to increase as over 2,500 registration were made on the SELangkah app for this programme,” he said when met here today.
In June, the Selangor government had launched the Selvax Industry and Selvax Selvax Community initiatives as an approach to complete and expedite the vaccination process for its people.
The effort involving a financial cost of RM200 million has been recognised by the Federal government and included in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
Among the targeted groups for the programme include the low-income group, senior citizens and industrial workers.
