KUCHING, Sept 20: State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian hoped that the State Health Department (JKNS) can speed up the Covid-19 vaccination rollout for 12 to 15-year-olds in Sarawak.
Dr Sim said the vaccination exercise for these individuals which make up 6.9 per cent of Sarawak’s total population is timely as there was substantial amount of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine which has been delivered to the State.
“Scheduled Pfizer vaccines (part of National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Pick) from Belgium, arrived in Kuching International Airport tonight (last night). (The) last flight delivery for Pfizer vaccines was August 11.
“(It is) timely as with the new substantial (number of) doses of Pfizer vaccines (only vaccines approved by National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority (NPRA) of Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) for above 12 years old at the moment) arrivals, (I) hope JKNS can re-plan on the schedule for 12-15-year-olds (Department of Statistics Malaysia 192,800 (or) approximately 6.9 per cent of total Sarawak Population),” he said.
Dr Sim who is also Minister for Local Government and Housing said Sarawak has been entrusted with being the first State in Malaysia to implement the vaccination for 12 to 17-year-olds.
He believed that the State will also become the first in Malaysia to roll out the third dose of Covid-19 vaccines or booster doses next month.
Dr Sim who is a cardiologist said scientific data has shown that Covid-19 vaccines have been effective in reducing the severity of coronavirus infections, deaths, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions and need for ventilator support. — DayakDaily
