THE GRS State Government is committed to ensuring that children aged between five and 12 receive the Covid-19 vaccine with the launch of the State-level Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) at the Hospital Wanita & Kanak Kanak Sabah (HWKKS) at Likas, Kota Kinabalu, on Feb 15.
Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, advised parents and guardians to take the opportunity to register their kids for vaccination under PICKids.
A total of 32,186 children have registered through the MySejahtera application for PICKids in Sabah, he said, adding that this number was still low as it represents less than 10 per cent of the eligible 411,400 children in the target group in the state.
“The number that has registered so far is still low. I advise parents and guardians to take the opportunity to register them,” he said.
As of Feb 14, 9,686 or about seven per cent of those who registered received their first dose since PICKids started in Sabah on Feb 3, he said, at the launching at the Hospital Wanita dan Kanak Kanak Sabah (HWKKS) in Likas.
The programme started on Feb 3 in five tertiary hospitals namely HWKKS, Duchess of Kent Hospital Sandakan, Keningau Hospital, Lahad Datu Hospital and Tawau Hospital.
The programme has since been extended throughout the state with the setting up of 145 vaccine administering centres (PPV) involving 109 Health Clinics, 22 hospitals, 18 private clinics and four public PPV, which is monitored by specialists and medical officers.
“Extending the vaccination programme to cover children, particularly those aged between five and below 12 is part of the government’s efforts to protect them from Covid-19 infection,” he said.
Similar to the programme for adults, vaccines under PICKids are free for those residing in Sabah regardless of citizenship status.
He said the appointment system created within the MySejahtera application provides freedom for parents and guardians to choose the most convenient date and time as well as the PPV they want to bring their children to for vaccination.
They could also bring their children to be vaccinated at the nearest PPV walk- in, he added.
Hajiji said the vaccination process for school children began on Feb 12 at the school PPV, while the State Health Department had collaborated with the State Education Department, Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains) and Jakim to conduct outreach vaccination programmes in schools under its respective purview.
“The official launching of the Sabah PICKids today showed the State Government’s commitment and sincerity to ensure children aged between five and below 12 years old in Sabah receive the Covid-19 vaccine,” he said.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.