KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — The government is introducing “Operation Surge Capacity” to ensure that every adult resident in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor will receive their first dose of the two-shot Covid-19 vaccination by August 1.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin made the announcement in a virtual news conference today.

Khairy who is also the coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme said that 3.5 million out of 6.1 million adults in both KL and Selangor have received their first doses.

“Owing to the high increase in daily Covid-19 cases, especially in the Klang Valley: Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, CITF is now making thorough preparations to increase vaccination capacity and vaccination rate, especially in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor which are the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak.

“This operation will be known as Operation Surge Capacity for Klang Valley. Under this operation, we will ensure that every adult resident of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur receives at least one dose of the vaccine by August 1.

“This is a new initiative that we have worked out and in order to achieve this, we have to increase the capacity and the supply throughout Selangor and Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Khairy also announced that after August 1, those who live in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor but are not accounted for by the Department of Statistics Malaysia can walk in to any established vaccination centre (PPV) for their first doses.

“We have made the decision that on August 1, after we settle the Operation Surge Capacity, all PPVs in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor will be walk-in for people to receive their vaccines so we can vaccinate anybody who have not received their first doses, in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor,” he said.

These include undocumented migrants and anyone else without documents, he added.

Khairy said that the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force expects 1.3 million people to receive their first vaccination dose from now until July 25, while the other 1.3 million people will be receiving their first dose jabs between July 26 and August 1.

He said he had discussed the matter with Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to ensure close cooperation between the federal and the state government and they agreed to appoint Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming as the coordinator for the Selangor state government.

“For this purpose, we will also increase the capacity for vaccination. For example, vaccination capacity in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur is expected to increase from the current 180,000 doses to 272,000 a day from July 26 to August 1, of which 181,000 are for the first dose and 91,000 for the second dose.

“For the same purpose, we are also making adjustments to the delivery of vaccine supplies to the states to match. Vaccination capacity at all PPVs including those under ProtectHealth will be increased,” he added.

ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd is a non-profit company owned by the Ministry of Health, which manages several PPVs operated by private medical practitioners.