KUCHING: The Covid-19 vaccination programme for teenagers is to control the spread of the virus as well as to ensure the people are safe from the threat of the ongoing pandemic.
In an effort to control the Covid-19 pandemic, various initiatives have been implemented including the provision of vaccines to teenagers aged 16 to 17; followed by children aged 12 to 15.
Most recipients are school students accompanied by a parent or guardian to sign a vaccination consent form during the process at the designated vaccination centre (PPV).
The Information Department (JaPen) surveyed the situation around Dewan Majma PPV in Kuching and interviewed health officers and some students who received their vaccination.
Dewan Majma PPV chief coordinator Dr Syariful Hasan said appointments for vaccination will be made according to the students’ respective schools as teenagers aged 16 to 17 need to be fully vaccinated before the school session starts on Oct 3.
“As for students aged 12 to 15, the vaccination programme is scheduled to start Oct 22 to Oct 26,” said Dr Syariful, who is also the coordinating officer for the vaccination programme in schools in the Kuching Division.
According to him, there are 30 secondary schools in Kuching and the number of students registered to be vaccinated at the Dewan Majma PPV is 9,500 persons.
He added that parents are encouraged to bring their eligible children to be vaccinated at all PPVs according to the scheduled appointments.
A student from SMK Green Road, Winnie Chai Mei Sze, accompanied by her mother Bong Yah Yin, was grateful and happy to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
“I am very grateful to the government for providing vaccines to school students. Not only does it help to curb the spread of Covid-19, the vaccination programme also ensures that we students can go back to school,” she said.
Another student from Sekolah Menengah Tunku Abdul Rahman (STAR), Muhamad Syihabuddin Usiri, accompanied by his mother Sharifah Uteh Wan Drahman, was grateful to be administered the vaccine.
“I am relieved that I can return to school. It has been a long time and I can finally meet my classmates,” he said.
