THREE deputy ministers got their Influenza A (H1N1) inoculation yesterday in a gesture meant to help assure the public of the vaccine’s safety.
Deputy Ministers Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Othman of Religious Affairs, Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abdul Wahab of Industry and Primary Resources and Pehin Orang Kaya Dewa Pahlawan Dato Paduka Hj Dani Hj Ibrahim of Home Affairs all got their H1N1 jabs at the National Indoor Stadium yesterday, the first day of the resumption of the mass inoculation programme.
Speaking to The Brunei Times at the National Indoor Stadium, Deputy Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Paduka Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah said the public should not be afraid of getting vaccinated.
“I was one of the first to receive the vaccination and I had no reaction to it, although everyone is different,” said Pehin Dato Hj Hazair. “I felt fine and was able to go to work the next day.
“As you can see all these government ministers are getting vaccinated today, there is nothing to be afraid of,” said the deputy health minister.
As of 2.30pm yesterday, the tally board showing the number of people who received the jabs indicated that only one person had been vaccinated since yesterday. This was confirmed by a medical staff at the vaccination centre.
However, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health (MoH) said that the figure was not an accurate reflection of the number of people that were vaccinated nationwide yesterday, stating that they still needed to tally the total number from eight different vaccination centres across the country.
“A more fair assessment of the number of people coming to the centres can be made when we tally the total at the end of the week,” said the MoH spokesperson.
There are eight vaccination centres in Brunei: Sengkurong Jubli Perak Health Centre, Ong Sum Ping Health Centre, Berakas “A” Health Centre in Anggerek Desa, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (Ripas) Hospital, Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital in Tutong, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital and Sungai Liang Health Centre in Belait, and Pengiran Isteri Hajah Mariam Hospital in Temburong. The National Indoor Stadium is the country’s biggest vaccination centre.
The MoH also confirmed it would resume the mass vaccination of students at the stadium today. Details of the schedule have not been released as the ministry is still finalising the timetable with the Department of Schools.
Before the suspension of the programme on February 13, the Ministry of Health has vaccinated close to 40,000 people. The vaccination centre is open during working hours on weekdays and from 2pm to 8pm on Friday and Sunday.
Latest by Quratul-Ain Bandial:
- Teleconsult wins top ICT award
- New 24-Hr Breastfeeding Hotline
- LRT can work despite cheap petrol for cars
- 8 in 10 want LRT system
- Abandoned baby now out of danger
