SIBU: Almost 100 percent of traders and employees at business premises in Sibu have obtained at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, said Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) coordinator Dr Annuar Rapaee.
He said this while conducting a survey and reaching out to the business community around Sibu in Jalan Sanyan today.
He was accompanied by Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting Ing Horh, permanent chairman of the Divisional Committee SMC Public Health, Environment and Municipal Services Cr Jenny Ting and SMC staff.
Dr Annuar, who is also Public Health and Housing Assistant Minister, was very satisfied with the initiative and responsibility taken by the business community in supporting to achieve the target to reach herd immunity by August.
“Only two employees of the premises have not yet received the vaccine. This is because they have just reached the age of 18.
“Previously, the vaccine would not be given if they had not reached that age, but now they can and the SMC has also taken the names of the two people to be arranged to get vaccinated,” he said.
The Education, Science and Technology Research Assistant Minister also said, the vaccination is very important to the business community here because the city council will issue a special certificate as proof that all traders and their employees have been vaccinated and the certificate will be displayed at their premises.
“With the certificate as proof, customers would also feel more confident to visit their premises.
“For food and beverage premises, vaccination is very important as it has been set as a standard operating procedure (SOP) in order to be allowed a ‘dine-in’ by customers,” he added.
During his survey, Dr Annuar also asked some of the business owners, employees and customers especially coffee shops whether they have been vaccinated or not yet.
“Because we are aware that the latest SOP states that only food operators, including all employees who have received at least the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, are allowed to work in stores or eateries wanting to operate ‘dine-in’ for customers,” he said.
Based on his survey, the Nangka assemblyman expressed satisfaction as he was able to meet with the business community and customers about vaccinations face-to-face.
“Everyone we asked said they had been vaccinated at least one dose. This is one of our efforts to make sure our population is almost 100 percent immunised,” he said.
Earlier, Jenny said that SMC will issue a confirmation certificate to the coffee shop owners to be affixed to the wall as proof that all employees of the shop have received vaccination.
She added, her committee and the council are actively distributing forms to collect data and vaccination information for shop owners and their employees.
For those who have received the vaccination, she explained, they have to fill in the form with the name, identity card and date of the first dose and then they have to make a printout of the vaccination certificate for verification.
“If all the information provided is complete, we will issue a vaccination confirmation certificate to the store concerned,” Jenny said.
