By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Aug 6: Administration of the third booster shots for Covid-19 in Sarawak is likely to take place earliest starting October, says State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
“Sarawak Covid-19 Advisory Group (Scovag) has started to look into (the necessity of) the third booster dose scientifically, and the earliest we can do it is probably (starting) October if Scovag were to approve it,” he said.
This is all under SDMC’s active planning, he assured, adding that research to find the best vaccines for teens, aged 12 to 18, is also ongoing.
Since the statewide immunisation programme is ahead of schedule and almost all of the eligible population had received their double doses, he said the vaccination focus will now shift to the young Sarawakians.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Local Government and Housing, stressed the urgency of this approach as Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) reports found approximately 20 per cent out of over 1,100 infections to be youth and children below 18 years old.
“So, we want our experts and medical scientists to look into the most suitable vaccines for those between 12 and 18 years old, because we want them to be vaccinated safely.
“Sarawak is urgently looking into it because we are already ahead (of schedule) and almost everyone (who are eligible) is vaccinated with two doses,” he said after officiating the handover ceremony of Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) 6.0 financial assistance to hawkers and coffeeshop owners at Kenyalang Park Market here today.
Among those present at the ceremony were Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang and Ministry of Local Government and Housing health officer Billy Sujang. — DayakDaily
