By Nazrinzulaiqa Hasbi
KUCHING: A total of 375 students, aged 16 and 17, received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the Telaga Air Health Clinic today (Sept 8).
According to the medical officer in charge, Dr Nurdarlina Shaari, the students were from SMK Sri Matang and Taman Sri Puteri.
She said the vaccination programme was a collaboration between the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the school administration with cooperation from the respective students’ parents as well.
“The students are divided based on their respective classrooms as to avoid congestion and over crowdedness. If there are students who are unable to come for their vaccination today, we will set up another appointment for them this Friday.
“The students from Sekolah Menengah Agama Matang will receive their vaccination on Friday,” she said today.
Dr Nurdarlina said that there are 90 students who are in the 12- to 15-year-old group with comorbidities who will receive their vaccination too.
“Overall, I am pleased to see that majority of the parents and guardians are supportive of their children to get their vaccination. At the registration counter, they are required to sign the consent on behalf of their children because there is no compulsion for the students to receive the vaccine,” she explained.
Meanwhile, one of the parents, Masri Sakichan, 46, expressed his relief and gratitude for his children being able to go for vaccination.
“I have no problem with allowing my children to take the vaccine because I do not have any doubts. I honestly feel safer knowing that they are now vaccinated,” he said.
He also said that he had informed his children on the importance of getting themselves vaccinated and given assurance that it is for everyone’s safety.
Another parent, Suraya Johari, 48, said that her worries about allowing her only son to attend school next month have reduced given that he is vaccinated.
“Despite the protection and assurance from having oneself vaccinated, we must still take care of ourselves,” she added.
Similar to Masri, she said she had to provide assurance and advise her son about getting the vaccine as he was initially afraid.
“At first, my son did not want to take this vaccine. However, I told him that if he did not take this vaccine, he would have a harder time to go on with his daily life. Now that he is vaccinated, at least he would feel safer when he has to go out,” she added.
