KUCHING: The Ministry of Health (MoH) will set up a vaccination centre (PPV) in schools nationwide by Feb 14.
Deputy Health Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said this was to facilitate the implementation of the Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) aged five to 11.
“The MoH is targeting 70 per cent of the total number of children in the country.
“We have two million students going back to schools, and for Year 1, Year 2, Primary 5 and Primary 6 there is no rotation in terms of attendance.
“Therefore, the focus of the PPV in schools is to ease the vaccination process so that the children need not move around to get vaccinated.”
He said this after visiting the PICKids process at Batu Kawah Health Clinic here on Thursday (Feb 10).
Dr Noor Azmi also added that MoH expected to complete vaccinating children aged five to 11 with the first dose within this two months.
“MoH will issue a media statement soon after the meeting with the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force for Children (CITF-C) on the implementation of the PICKids.”
He added that for the implementation of PICKids in schools, parents need not register their children’s names on the MySejahtera app as the schools would provide the dates for vaccination.
“For those who missed the appointment, parents can contact the health officers and they can still get the vaccine either at the private hospitals or nearest public health clinic.”
He urged parents to get their children vaccinated. “Although children who are infected by Covid-19 (symptoms) not that serious, there are also serious cases whereby they are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.”
“That is why the government is very concerned and taking early steps to implement the PICKids because studies show that it is 90.7 per cent effective.
“Thus far there are no adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) and MoH is constantly monitoring the situation as we understand the worries from the public,” he added.
“In the United States of America, a total of 8.6 million children have been given the vaccine and only 11 of them showed some side effects but all are healthy after given treatment.
“Therefore, I urge all Malaysians, especially parents in Sarawak, not to worry or feel scared but to register their children quickly for vaccination.”
Meanwhile, a total of 197 children aged five to 11 were vaccinated at Batu Kawah Health Clinic and SK Sungai Maong Hilir PPV on Thursday.
