SARAWAK has recorded the highest percentage of Covid-19 inoculations for children, with almost 70% of those aged five to 11 having completed the first dose through the national roll-out to date.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said the achievement was the result of the state government’s efforts to visit schools and vaccination centres (PPVs) to give Covid-19 vaccine injections to children who did not register on the MySejahtera application.

“Although we use appointments in the peninsula, reservations and also offsite methods, but the situation in Sarawak is different. If you look at the data in CovidNow, this is the best.

“In fact, I made a visit to Sarawak on February 9 and 10, and saw for myself how diligent and committed everyone is to carry out their work even though most of these students are not registered on MySejahtera,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (Igan-GPS), who wanted to know whether the implementation of children’s vaccination without an appointment had been extended to all PPVs including rural and coastal areas of Sarawak to ensure easier access.

Noor Azmi said the level of parents’ concern over the side effects of the vaccine on children in Sarawak, which was very low, also contributed to the highest percentage of vaccinations for the group.

“As of yesterday, a total of 198,095 children (69.3%) have received the first dose of the vaccine in Sarawak. Vaccination in Sarawak started on February 3 at schools, health clinics and hospitals, including private facilities,” he added. – Bernama, March 23, 2022.