BY PETRONELLA FELIX
SRI AMAN: A total of 635 students from SMK Sri Aman became the earliest teenagers aged 13 to 15 years in Sri Aman division to receive their inoculation on Saturday (Sept 25).
They received their first dose of the vaccine at the Dewan Suarah Sri Aman vaccination centre (PPV).
Sri Aman division PPV secretariat head Dr Janariah Jangani said the students received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine between 8am to 5pm.
“The vaccination programme for this group of students will be held until Sept 30 based on the schedule implemented by the division’s health office, the school authorities and the Sri Aman Disaster Management Committee,” said Dr Janariah.
She advised eligible students to bring along their parent or guardian to the PPV to facilitate the vaccination process.
Meanwhile, most students who came for the vaccination today (Sept 25) were accompanied by their parents.
Everyone complied with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the PPV as they maintained physical distancing, wore face masks, have their body temperatures scanned, and checked into the venue via MySejahtera application.
Most of the students and parents present at the PPV expressed gratefulness and said they were excited about the vaccination programme.
Nurhafizah Azizzati, 13, and her sister Nurhafizah Azzahara, 15, said they were a little nervous before receiving their first jab, but their father Suadi Yusof helped calmed them down.
“I have been nervous and scared to get vaccinated, especially after hearing various feedbacks on its side effects from vaccine recipients.
“But after my father explained that the vaccine is the main condition to resume physical classes in school starting next week, I became excited about going back to school after so long,” said Nurhafizah Azzahra.
Nurhafizah Azzizati, on the other hand, said that she had a fear for sharp objects, especially needle.
“I was sobbing on my way to the PPV this morning, but our father’s motivation made me realise that it is my responsibility as a student to get vaccinated, and that inoculation is necessary in order to carry on with our lives,” she said.
Adolescent Vaccination Programme (CITF-A) in Sarawak for teenagers aged between 12 to 15 years, which comprised 192,800 people or 6.9 percent of the state population, began today.
The state’s CITF-A programme kick-started in Sept 8 where the first group of teenagers to be vaccinated were students aged 16 to 17.
