THE Covid-19 vaccination centre (PPV) in Setia SPICE Convention Centre (Setia SPICE CC) has received an overwhelming response as the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) for adolescents between 12 and 15 years old begins today.
The vaccination programme for teens between 12 and 15 years old in Penang is expected to involve a total of 93,000 schoolgoing children.
The Setia SPICE CC PPV, which is one of the designated PPVs for teens vaccination programme, saw hundreds of teenagers turning up to receive their Covid-19 jab this morning. They were also accompanied by their parents.
Kamachi Subramaniam, who was initially reluctant to allow her 13-year-old son N. Keviinesh to be inoculated, was also present at the Setia SPICE PPV today.
She finally decided to let her son go for it to enable him to attend classes once school reopens.
“Although I am a bit afraid as he is still young, I have no choice other than to heed the authorities’ advice.
“He can only attend school if he gets vaccinated. He is currently studying at the Methodist Boys School,’’ Kamachi, 36, told the Buletin Mutiara team.
Kamachi, who works with the Penang Hill Corporation, herself has been fully vaccinated.
“Keviinesh was feeling nervous prior to coming here. So, I gave him some words of encouragement and said it would be alright,’’ she added.
For school student Teh Yu Xi, her main objective of getting vaccinated is to be able to get back to school and study in a safe environment.
“I hope that with more teens being vaccinated, schools can resume in a safer environment.
“Apart from that, I also feel more comfortable and safer going out with my friends now while following the standard operating procedures (SOPs),’’ said Yu Xi, who is studying at SJK (C) Han Chiang.
Another school student, Chai Maypelle, who is also from SJK (C) Han Chiang, said she feels excited to have received the Covid-19 jab after being encouraged by her parents and teachers.
“I am hoping to attend school but as for now, only students sitting for examination will be returning to school first,’’ said Maypelle.
Teenager, Nur Hani Zalika Muhammad Zaki, 16, said she is aware of the benefits of getting vaccinated.
“Looking at the high number of Covid-19 cases, I feel it is important for all eligible individuals to get vaccinated. I was not forced by anyone to get inoculated, but I did it out of self-realisation.
“I hope the vaccines are able to protect us,” Nur Hani said.
Another teenager, Nur Azam Assyakirin Azman, who is studying at the Batu Lanchang Vocational College, said he was eager to receive the vaccine.
“I am missing the learning environment in my college. And I am pretty excited to get my jab.
“Based on the existing resources, the importance of vaccines is so apparent. And I have never seen any of my friends rejecting their Covid-19 vaccine jabs,’’ said Nur Azam.
Meanwhile, the NIP for adolescents aged between 16 and 17 had earlier kicked off on Sept 23 at six PPVs both on the island and mainland namely, the SPICE Convention Centre, Tapak Ekspo Seberang Jaya, Vangohh Eminent Hotel, Dewan Perda Convention Centre, Dewan Millenium in Kepala Batas and Dewan Serbaguna Sungai Bakap.
Out of these, four PPVs specifically the Setia SPICE Convention Centre, Tapak Ekspo Seberang Jaya, Dewan Perda Convention Centre and Dewan Serbaguna Sungai Bakap also conduct walk-in programme for teens who are pursuing their studies at higher learning institutions as well as for non-students.
It was reported that Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah wanted teens with certain medical conditions to undergo a pre-vaccination assessment.
They include individuals with a history of severe allergy to medicines or with other unknown allergies, immune-compromised individuals due to certain diseases or treatment, and individuals who undergo anti-coagulant treatment or those with bleeding tendencies.
Dr Noor Hisham said individuals identified with health risks during the pre-vaccination assessment would need to be vaccinated at hospital or medical institute so that they could receive treatment immediately, if necessary.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi