SIBU: More than 22,000 students in the Sibu division are involved in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) for teenagers aged 12 to 15 which started on September 25 and will end on September 28.
Sibu Vaccination Centre (PPV) coordinator James Badi, when contacted yesterday (Sept 26), said that the teenagers were from 25 secondary schools and 146 primary schools.
James said records showed more than 18,000 teenagers were from the Sibu district while about 2,000 were from Kanowit and the rest from the Selangau district.
“Four PPVs have been opened, namely, at Dewan Suarah Sibu, Sibu Jaya Multipurpose Hall, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaaan Cina (SJKC) Tong Ah Hall in Selangau and Kanowit District Council Hall,” he said.
On Sept 25, James said, a total of 1,401 Form 1 to Form 3 students involving three schools, namely, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Agama Sibu, SMK Tiong Hin, and SMK Sungai Merah were present to get their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
To launch the vaccination process, he said his party had distributed letters of representation of parents and guardians to individuals who accompanied the children.
“We provide representation forms if parents are unable to attend. They need to sign first to allow their other relatives to come with their children,” he said.
Commenting on the vaccination of the 12-year-olds, he said they would be inoculated after the vaccination of all secondary school students was completed either on Oct 6 or Oct 7.
However, James said there could be changes. He advised parents to contact the schools to get the latest development.
Meanwhile, Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (SDDMC) coordinator Dr Annuar Rapaee is expected to inspect the vaccination process at the PPV Suarah Sibu Hall at 9am today (Sept 27).
