MIRI – Sarawak must not delay in vaccinating those aged below 18 against Covid-19 as there are already severe coronavirus cases involving the demographic in the state, said Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
Dr Yii, himself a medical doctor, said today that with travel restrictions eased and school reopening next month, the dangers faced by the young are increasing.
He warned on social media that the Delta, Delta Plus and Lambda variants are much more ferocious and deadly compared to the original Covid-19 coronavirus.
He stressed that with minors not yet sanctioned for the vaccines in Malaysia, Sarawak has seen more youth infected by Covid-19 and some have developed serious symptoms.
“To make it worse, the (federal) government is opening up the social and economic spheres and allowing more travel to take place. And schools are reopening next month.
“All these put our young ones at greater risk of getting infected and becoming carriers who can transmit to other students and their families at home,” he said.
Dr Yii said the government must start vaccinating teenagers now.
Assistant Public Health Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee has said that Sarawak will only administer Covid-19 vaccination for teens aged 12 to 17 if independent medical experts give the go-head.
“Medical experts working with the Sarawak Covid-19 Advisory Group are studying this now.
“If they give the clearance, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) will take it up and implement it,” Dr Annuar had said on social media yesterday.
The Nangka state assemblyman had said that prevailing statistics on the very young in Sarawak getting infected by Covid-19 are worrying.
Children and teenagers form a sizeable portion of Covid-19 patients in Sarawak nowadays.
Official statistics compiled by the state Health Department revealed that hospitals here are recording more young patients.
SDMC advisor Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian too revealed the details on his social media.
“From July 15 to August 3, statistics from the Sarawak General Hospital showed that out of 1,000 Covid-19 patients, at least 20% of them are aged below 18,” he pointed out as an example.
“This is a trend that we need to be concerned about... Those below 18 are not vaccinated as yet (due to national policy) but in Sarawak, these young ones are getting infected at a worrying rate,” he said.
Dr Sim, who is state Housing and Local Government Minister, said the fact that the Delta variant and other strains are spreading in Sarawak means the young will be subjected to more serious infections.
He said Sarawak is officially looking into the possibility of Covid-19 vaccination for teenagers aged between 12 and 18, as well as a possible booster shot for adults.
“The Sarawak Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Group is looking into this since there is no decision yet from the national side.
“The advisory group is made up of our own health and medical experts in Sarawak.
“They will advise the state government on the plan to vaccinate those aged 12 and 18 since there is no federal order yet.
“The group will also advise us about the third dose idea to boost the vaccine effectiveness for adults who are vaccinated,” he said.
Dr Sim also said that only the Pfizer vaccine can be used on teens.
“The substantial increase of Pfizer vaccines from the federal CITF (Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force) to Sarawak is part of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme,” he said.
He said that currently Sinovac, which has been completed last month, ongoing deliveries of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca shots respectively, and the CanSino doses have yet to begin. – The Vibes, August 11, 2021
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