GEORGE TOWN – Only 27.13%, or 1,534 students, in Penang religious, tahfiz and Islamic schools have received their Covid-19 vaccination while 4,120 have yet to get vaccinated as of yesterday.
State Health, Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said because the vaccination rate is so low, she is urging parents or guardians of the students to walk into any of the 10 vaccination centres in the state before face-to-face school sessions start soon.
“I urge parents or guardians to immediately bring their children to get the vaccination at the vaccination centres, which will cease operations early next month,” she said today.
She said according to the Penang Islamic Religious Department (JHEAIPP), the students' vaccination is managed by their respective families.
Norlela added that 85.9%, or 121,489 out of 141,500, teenagers in the state have received at least one dose of the vaccine under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) as of yesterday.
Meanwhile, she hopes that the Health Ministry will consider giving the booster dose to 40,000 frontliners and 482,000 senior citizens, as well as individuals with comorbidities, in Penang soon.
“This is for their additional protection so that there will not be a surge in Covid-19 cases following the lifting of the interstate travel ban.” – Bernama, October 15, 2021
