PETALING JAYA: Parents should consult their doctors if they need verifiable information before deciding to vaccinate their children against Covid-19, says the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).

       MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said that many parents have expressed concern about clusters being reported from educational institutions, adding that there have been small numbers of reports of severe Covid-19 infection among children.

       "We too know of parents who are worried about adverse reactions from the Covid-19 vaccine and are hesitant to subject their children to it," said Dr Koh.

       He said in a statement on Sunday (Feb 20) that such parents should speak to either their paediatricians or family doctors for verified information before deciding on whether to vaccinate their children.

       Dr Koh praised the government's decision not to force Covid-19 vaccination on children.

       "It is a laudable decision that has been taken by the government when it comes to the PICKids (the national immunisation programme for children)," he said.

       More than 50,000 children aged below 12 in the country have been infected by Covid-19 since January, according to the Health Ministry.

       Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said of the 50,826 cases involving children, 50,674 (99.7%) were Category 1 and 2 infections while there were 120 cases in Category 3, 28 in Category 4 and four in Category 5.

       Dr Noor Hisham had said the daily Covid-19 bed usage pattern among children under 12 years has shown to be increasing, in line with the rise in Covid-19 cases in the country.