KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 308,186 adolescents aged between 12 and 17 have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, with Sabah recording the highest number at 118,141.
This is followed by Sarawak (88,473), Kedah (19,453), Kelantan (17,413), Johor (16,019) and Labuan (2,523).
Deputy Health Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali, who is the Covid-19 Immunisation Task force-Adolescent (CITF-A) chairman, said as of yesterday, a total of 5,964 schools have registered with the Vaksin-Anak-Ku portal as part of the inoculation programme.
Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme for Adolescents which officially kicked off yesterday (Monday), targeted some 3.2 million teenagers aged 12 and 17.
He said vaccinations for this age group however, had started earlier in these five states and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
The step served as preparation for the reopening of schools to reduce infection risks, while preventing clusters and cases among school personnel and students.
"As announced by the Health Minister (Khairy Jamaluddin) on Monday, the vaccinations would be done through several methods, namely, outreach (programme) and scheduled (vaccinations) at schools or institutions.
"Vaccination will be conducted by personnel comprising health staff, private medical practitioners, health care organisations or medical non-governmental organisations," he said in a statement today.
For major examination candidates who are staying at hostels, the first vaccine dose would be scheduled at nearby clinics or schools, while the second dose would be administered at their respective school.
Meanwhile, teenagers with comorbidities would receive their doses at hospitals or clinics where they were being treated, he said.
Those who fail to turn up for their vaccination at school would be given another date at a nearby private clinic via the MySejahtera app.
