Curtin Malaysia reaches out to those yet to be vaccinated

Miri – 29 July 2021 – Security staff of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) have taken their duties at the COVID-19 vaccination centre at the university one step further by seeking out those in nearby areas who have yet to be vaccinated and encouraging them to do so immediately.

This follows the Miri Division Disaster Management Committee’s (MDDMC) recent announcement that all three public COVID-19 vaccination centres (PPVs) currently operating in Miri, including the Curtin Malaysia Vaccination Centre (PPV Curtin University REC Hall), are allowed to accept walk-in registrations.

Led by Chief of Campus Security Services, Anuar Edrews, teams of security staff have visited workers’ quarters at construction sites, farms and orchards, villages and resettlement areas in Kuala Baram, Permyjaya, Pujut and Padang Kerbau and offered those who have not been vaccinated transport to the Curtin Malaysia Vaccination Centre for walk-in vaccinations and sending them home afterwards.

Giving his thumbs up for the effort, Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who is the minister-in-charge of MDDMC and also chair of Curtin Malaysia’s management committee, said the decision to allow walk-ins was made at a Zoom meeting of MDDMC and local health authorities on 25 July.

According to Datuk Lee, the daily operating hours of each PPV are from 9 am to 5 pm. Members of the public going to the PPVs to register for vaccination via walk-ins must bring along their MyKad and personal medical records. If vaccines are readily available, they will be vaccinated immediately after registration, or otherwise appointments will be made for them to receive their vaccination on a later date.

The minister also said the MDDMC would strive to vaccinate 80 per cent of 311,035 people in Miri aged 18 and above and eligible for the COVID-19 immunisation to achieve herd immunity by the end of August.

He said the vaccination programme in Miri has been going on well throughout Phase 1 to 3, with 259,663 people having received their first dose of the vaccine. They represent 83.48 per cent of the total population in Miri Division who are aged 18 and above and eligible for the COVID-19 immunisation. Those who have received the second dose comprise 174,872 people, or 56.22 per cent of those eligible for immunisation.

“We are still calling upon more Mirians to come and register for the vaccination, and staff of Curtin Malaysia are performing an excellent public service in encouraging more people to get vaccinated at PPV Curtin University REC Hall,” said Datuk Lee.

“With the support of everyone in Miri, the immunisation programme in Miri is on track towards achieving its targets.”

Curtin Malaysia’s chief operating officer, Ir. Pieter Willem Pottas, also commended the efforts of the security staff, as well as that of other essential staff and the over 100 staff and student volunteers of the university who have been assisting at the vaccination centre since it started operations on 20 June 2021.

He said that as a key community player in Miri, Curtin Malaysia is supporting the efforts of the MDDMC and the national immunisation programme in any way that it can, including providing its spacious Recreation and Event Centre for the vaccination centre free-of-charge.

Vaccinees being transported by campus bus to the vaccination centre.

Security staff organising the vaccinees on arrival at the campus.

Vaccinees queuing to enter the vaccination centre.

Campus Security chief Anuar Edrews encouraging a construction worker to get vaccinated.

Campus Security chief Anuar Edrews recording the particulars of a villager.