MALAYSIA expects to complete vaccinating its adolescent population against Covid-19 by November 15, a “vital” move as schools reopen, a data expert at the Health Ministry said today.

Dr Mahesh Appannan said the vaccination drive for 12-17s was clearly effective as data showed that Covid-19 cases had fallen by more than eight times for people in this age group who were vaccinated.

“Importantly, the effects of our speedy adolescent roll-out are visible in the epidemic data.

“Cases generally fell (by 3-5x across all age groups), but the reduction is by more than 8x for the 12-17 group, which we have been vaccinating.

“This protection is vital as schools open,” he said on Twitter.

The head of data at the Health Ministry’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) said the country’s adolescent vaccination rate had been extremely quick.

“In just 2 months (adolescent vaccination began at the start of September), almost 80% of adolescents have been given 2 doses.

“We are expected to hit the 80% mark within the next few days,” added Dr Mahesh, who is also the CPRC Disease Control Division’s senior principal assistant director.

The vaccination rate among teenagers nationwide is 79.3% as of yesterday, according to the CovidNow website.

It said 75.9% of the general population are fully vaccinated.