327 Orang Asli in Kampung Sungai Berua, Terengganu receive COVID-19 vaccine

KUALA BERANG, Sept 25 -- Explaining the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine to the Orang Asli community in Kampung Sungai Berua here is not an easy task, but the commitment and determination of health workers in Terengganu have finally paid off.

Today, a total of 327 Orang Asli in the village received the single-dose CanSino vaccine, as a result of a joint effort between the Terengganu Health Department, the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) and Yayasan Diraja Sultan Mizan (YDSM).

Sungai Berua Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) chairman Alias Pelong said he was grateful to the government for not forgetting them in the implementation of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme.

“Previously, many Orang Asli were afraid of getting vaccinated because they feared they would die after reading inaccurate information on WhatsApp. Some also rejected, worrying about its side effects such as high fever.

“As the JPKK chairman, I take the responsibility to go to their houses to relay the benefits of the vaccine. When the health workers come and explain the importance of the vaccine, they relented,” he said when met by reporters here today.

A mother of four, Hawa Jusoh, 31, said she felt relieved and safe after receiving the vaccine because it will make things easier for her, especially when going to the town.

“Before this, it was difficult to enter any store because I had not been vaccinated. After this, it would be more convenient because I could do all sorts of things in the town which had been delayed for a long time,” she said.

Sam Kulim, 31, on the other hand, said that he agreed to get vaccinated as the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over and he also understood that vaccination was the only effective preventive measure for now.

“I was not interested in getting the vaccine but I changed my mind to protect myself and my family. After all, I only need one dose. The doctor said I can go back to work in the forest if I don’t have a fever after the jab,” he said.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Health director Datuk Dr Kasemani Embong said a total of 747 Orang Asli were involved in the vaccination programme in the state, namely 327 people in Sungai Berua, Hulu Terengganu; 398 people in Sungai Pergam, Kemaman and 22 people in Hulu Besut.

“Today, the vaccination programme is held in Sungai Berua, tomorrow in Sungai Pergam, Kemaman while in Hulu Besut, it was completed last month. Apart from the COVID-19 vaccination, we also do leprosy and dental check-ups,” she said.

-- BERNAMA