SIBU: Sixteen homeless people here received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine through the Sibu Division Homeless Community Vaccination Programme, that began last Sunday (Aug 15).
Sibu Division Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) chairman Wong Hee Sieng said the integrated operation involved about 40 staff from various agencies, including Sibu Resident’s Office, Sibu District Office, Sibu Social Welfare Department, Sibu Health Department, Sibu Hospital as well as the police.
“We vaccinated 10 homeless people on Sunday and the next day (Monday), another six received their shots.
“The two-day programme started from 8pm until around 12 midnight.”
The Sibu Resident said the vaccinated homeless were among those who had registered with the Sibu Welfare Department.
“Homeless people are a high-risk group. The Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Ministry together with some agencies decided to hold this event so that this group is not marginalised.
“We want to make sure all sections of the community who are eligible are vaccinated regardless of their status,” Wong explained, adding that all the vaccinated homeless people were photographed and their frequent locations were recorded to facilitate the second dose jabs in the future.
He added that homeless people who do not have identification documents would also be vaccinated and they would also receive a vaccination card and certificate like everyone else.
Wong again called on Sibu folk yet to be vaccinated to go to the nearest vaccination centre to get inoculated.
At the event, in addition to receiving donations such as face masks, hand sanitisers, clothes and food, the homeless people also got their hair cut.
