KUCHING: Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian hopes that the Health Department can replan the vaccination schedule so that those aged 12 to 15 can be inoculated as soon as possible.
He said according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, about 192,800 or 6.9 per cent of the state’s total population were those aged 12 to 15.
“This (vaccination for 12 to 15-year-olds) is timely as with the new substantial doses of Pfizer vaccine arrivals, of which Pfizer is the only vaccine type approved by National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority of Ministry of Health for above 12 years old at the moment,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday (Sept 20).
He added that the scheduled Pfizer vaccines from Belgium arrived at Kuching International Airport on Sept 19.
“Sarawak has carried out its vaccine rollout for adults. Then, we had been entrusted to be the first to vaccinate those 12 to 17 in Malaysia.”
He also expressed hope that Sarawak would be the first in the country to administer the booster shots next month.
“Vaccines have proven to decrease the severity of Covid-19, death, admission to intensive care unit, as well as the need for ventilation.
“But we still need other public health measures and non-pharmaceutical interventions for us to live with the virus, reopen (economic sectors) safer, and not be overwhelm by our hospitals and health care facilities.”
