BY MOHD ZAHID AHMAD ZAKI
KUCHING: About 83 per cent of children aged between seven and 12 in Chinese primary schools (SJK (C)) Chung Hua Nos.1 to 6 have been vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus.
Their management committee chairman Datuk Jonathan Chai said the target was to ensure students get at least one dose of vaccine before classes start on March 21.
“So far, six Chung Hua schools in Kuching have very encouraging vaccination rates and based on the available government data, the vaccination rate in these schools is very high.
“SJK (C) Chung Hua No.3 and No.5 have reached about 90 per cent, followed by SJK (C) Chung Hua No.4 at 86 per cent, SJK (C) Chung Hua No.2 85 per cent, SJK (C) Chung Hua No.6 82 per cent and SJK (C) Chung Hua No.1 at 73 per cent,” he said.
He said this during a visit to the Covid-19 PICKids 5 -11 Years Immunisation Programme at SJK Chung Hua No.4, here today.
However, he said, the figure was always changing because there were parents or guardians who had brought their children to get the jab at other vaccination centres.
He said children who had been vaccinated would be allowed to attend face-to-face classes.
While it is impossible to keep all students free of Covid-19 infection, it is the school board’s responsibility to keep infection rates low, he said.
“We don’t want children infected with the virus at home to spread it at school causing it to become a hotspot for Covid-19 transmission.
“That is something we do not want to see. Therefore, all parties including teachers, students and parents need to play their respective roles so that the majority of the student population gets vaccinated to prevent such incidents,” he said.
Chai, who is also the president of the Association of The Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools for Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions also advised people to take precautions at public areas.
This is to prevent children who have been vaccinated from being exposed to the virus, he said.
Commenting further, he also suggested that parents do a self-test on their children regularly or at least twice a week through a kit issued by the government as a preventive measure.
Also present were the Association of The Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools for Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions deputy president Rodger Chan, SJK (C) Chung Hua No.4 Management Board vice chairman Lam Lee Onn and principal Pui Jin Tung.
