[UPDATED] Primary schoolkids below age of vaccination to undergo weekly screenings

KUALA LUMPUR – Primary school students below the age of vaccination against Covid-19 will have to undergo weekly screenings, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

In a press conference today, he said the weekly screenings must be done on at least 10% of the student population, and carried out on a rotational basis.

This is part of the National Testing Strategy (NTS) that will begin on November 28.

“NTS will outline when and who must be tested, as well as what test they must conduct, be it PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or self-test.”

According to the National Covid-19 Testing Strategy guide, periodic pooled testing is required for those under the age of seven who are enrolled in nurseries, preschools, daycares, and kindergartens.

Support staff and teachers in these institutions are also subjected to the weekly testing regimen.

According to the document, all costs will be borne by the institution – except for individuals who are eligible, but choose not to be vaccinated.

These individuals must pay for the testing themselves.

Last week, a secondary school in Ranau, Sabah reported more than 20 cases of Covid-19, involving students and a hostel warden.

This outbreak occurred a mere two weeks after the resumption of in-person classes for Form Five students.

In October, Khairy confirmed that Malaysia would procure Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children between the ages of five and 11.

The announcement came after an independent medical panel in the US endorsed the vaccine, concluding that the known benefits outweighed the known risks. – The Vibes, November 26, 2021