KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is committed to fully optimise its facilities, resources and expertise to achieve the goal of the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP) in Sabah.

Its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin believes the rise of Covid-19 cases in the state lately can be contained through a comprehensive approach.

"This is possible as the vaccination centre (PPV) at UMS has so far dispensed 83,059 vaccine doses to the public in and around Kota Kinabalu since it was opened on June 14.

"We do not want to leave out anyone because we are worried that they will spread the infection in the community, which is our main concern," he said. 

However, through the intensified measure of vaccination, he said the worrisome situation in Sabah can be put under control like what happened to the Federal Territory of Labuan.

Labuan has since moved to Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) after achieving 92.4 percent vaccination rate and herd immunity. It is also recording a single-digit number of cases daily.

UMS Medicine and Health Sciences Faculty dean Prof Dr Mohammad Saffree Jeffree also echoed Yap's statement saying that vaccination is the most effective way to contain the rise of Covid-19 positive cases in Sabah, which has now breached the 3,000 cases a day mark.

"We are not limited to PPV. We have mobilised our staff to implement the mobile vaccination outreach programmes in villages as well as Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) areas in collaboration with the State Health Department to vaccinate the residents.

"We will continue to work with the department and various parties to achieve the goal of herd immunity as soon as possible as this is the only way to battle the pandemic," he said.

Meanwhile, public health specialist Assoc Prof Dr Richard Avoi said based on the increasing trend of cases in May and June, it is likely the number of cases will continue to rise.

He said this was based on the assumption that more people were vulnerable to infection when there was less control over social movements and when vaccination coverage is still low.

"Using the epidemiological model and based on the daily trend of Covid-19 cases reported from June 1 to 18 this year, it is predicted that the number of cases will continue to increase to around 2,000 to 2,500 cases in the next two to three weeks.

"If the number of people exposed to infection is increased by 30 per cent, the number of daily cases is expected to increase to around 3,500 to 3,700 cases in the next two to three weeks.

"Therefore, the priority now is to reduce the number of populations exposed to Covid-19 infection through vaccination programmes," said Richard.

However, he said time was still needed to ensure the population completed their vaccinations. Based on the predictions of certain models, the spike in the number of Covid-19 cases was likely to occur.

"Therefore, we need to be prepared to face the possibility of this spike, and the public is advised to continue to adhere to the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and stay at home if there is nothing important for them to go out for," Richard said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/08/721620/herd-immunity-only-way-battle-covid-19-says-ums-vice-chancellor