MIRI – As Sarawak starts vaccinating teenagers against Covid-19, the state has found people as young as 12 years old suffering a myriad of comorbidities.
State Disaster Management Committee adviser Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the Health Department has uncovered cases of teenagers between ages 12 and 15 with comorbidities such as diabetes.
In his statement today, he said teenagers with comorbidities will be given priority in the vaccination drive.
“Yesterday, we started vaccinations for those aged 16 and 17. We will be including those aged 12 to 15 with comorbidities.
“The rest of those aged 12 to 15 years old without health ailments will be vaccinated at the end of this month or early October.”
Dr Sim, who is state minister for housing and local government, said the Sarawak government has obtained supplies of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines from Putrajaya to vaccinate 290,000 teenagers.
He said parents must accompany their teenage children who are eligible for vaccination to receive their jabs.
“We need the consent of parents at assigned vaccination centres, schools, or clinics.
“Appointments for teenagers will be made according to their schools, and each designated vaccination venue will receive students from several schools every day.
“Government health clinics will provide vaccination services for dormitory students currently in villages, and also those who are not schooling.”
For the past three days, Sarawak had topped national caseloads, overtaking Selangor. – The Vibes, September 9, 2021