KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Parents and guardians are advised to keep track of their teenagers’ second Covid-19 vaccine dose appointments, says Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali (pic).

       The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force-Adolescent chairman, in a statement Thursday (Nov 4), said the Health Ministry had, in the past week, found that there have been teenagers who failed to turn up for their second dose appointments.

       Dr Noor Azmi said according to earlier projections, the second dose rate should have reached 80% on Nov 11 but based on the latest projections, this target will only be achieved in late November or early December.

       "If parents or guardians do not ensure that their teenagers receive the second dose, the risk for this group to be infected with Covid-19 is higher than those who have received the complete dose.

       "This situation will definitely affect the reopening of schools and also the reopening of economic sectors," he said.

       Dr Noor Azmi said parents who had to reschedule the second dose appointment can contact the school for a new one.

       Those who can’t accompany their children for their vaccination appointments can request for another adult to represent them by filling up a form available at the schools, he added.

       "I also understand concerns among parents of their children having side effects such as allergies. However, I would like to stress here that serious side effects are rare and with early treatment, they will fully recover.

       "Although economic and social sectors have reopened and the current situation is improving, parents should be aware that the risk of Covid-19 infection is still high, especially for children who have not completed their vaccinations,” he said.

       Dr Noor Azmi said as of Nov 3, a total of 2,622,306 or 83.3% of teenagers had received their Covid-19 vaccine first dose while 2,197,961 or 69.8% had received the second dose.

       He said the states that recorded the highest number of second doses were Melaka (88.6%), Perlis (87.8%), Penang (83.7%), Kedah (81%) and Terengganu (80.9%). - Bernama