KUCHING, 3 Feb: A survey conducted by the State Health Department (JKN) found that 59.7 percent of parents in the state agreed with the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids).
Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas mentioned 15 per cent of the 40,000 respondents in the survey did not agree while 25.3 per cent were uncertain.
He had expressed that the main reason they did not agree was due to risk of complications besides concerns on the vaccine efficacy.
“They too want the freedom to choose the type of vaccine,” he told reporters during a press conference after launching PICKids Sarawak at Sarawak General Hospital today.
Also attending the event was Deputy Chief Minister III, Dato Sri Dr. Sim Kui Hian who is also the State Minister of Public Health, Local Government and Housing of Sarawak.
The PICKids Sarawak programme witnessed Ivan Muammar Imaan Andy, 10, becoming the first adolescent in the state to receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine along with another 29 individuals whom had various comorbidities and undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Previously, the Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar has affirmed that as many as 517,107 children aged five to 11 in Malaysia have been registered to receive Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine as of 1st February.
Meanwhile, Uggah, who is also the Chairman of the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), said that a total of 270,500 children in the state are eligible to receive the vaccination.
“With that in mind, I hope parents will immediately register their children.”
“This will allow them (children) to socialise in safer conditions outside of their homes and learning institutions whilst lowering the risk of disease transmission amongst children who have not received the vaccine,” he said.
Uggah further stated that the provisions of vaccination for children with comorbidities will be continued in private and government hospitals throughout the state whereby the dates will be announced later.
“For those who have missed their appointments, their parents may contact private medical practitioners involved in the vaccination process or the nearest government clinic for a new appointment,” he added. – TVS
