THE Covid-19 vaccination for children aged five to 11 with comorbidities and in high-risk group in Penang has been carried out smoothly today.
The vaccination process specifically for these children is being conducted at the special vaccination centres in Seberang Jaya and near Penang Hospital.
State Agrotech and Food Security, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said there were many education clusters that had emerged recently.
“Hence, we need to give priority to these children, and particularly those with comorbidities and in high-risk group to get their jabs.
“It’s important to get themselves inoculated as the Covid-19 cases are rising.
“Nevertheless, the best practice is still to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) by wearing fitting masks, observing physical distancing and washing hands frequently,” she told reporters at the Nursing College in Jalan Residensi.
Norlela said there are about 160,000 children aged five to 11 in the state, out of which 40,000 had already registered themselves for vaccination.
“Starting today, 10 children are to be vaccinated,” she said.
Norlela also advised those children who have received their jabs to refrain from exercising for at least two weeks.
G. Shivvaen, 10, was delighted after being vaccinated.
“I can now go out and return to my normal life.
“I hope more people can get vaccinated so that everything will return to normalcy soon,” he said.
His mother M. Malini, 39, who accompanied two of her sons to the vaccination centre, expressed hopes that more children would be vaccinated.
“As the pandemic has been ongoing for two years, many children have only stayed at home most of the times and rarely hang out,” she said.
On the current Covid-19 situation in the state, Norlela said there were not many admissions into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“So far, only three cases had been admitted as about 99% of the those infected are from the Category 1 and 2,” she added.
Story by Edmund Lee