PUTRAJAYA: With schools targeted to reopen next month, the country will begin vaccinating adolescents aged 12 to 17 from mid-September.

       National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin said those in this age bracket with underlying medical issues would be prioritised first.

       This would be followed by those without medical issues in descending order of age.

       “An announcement will be made next week by JKJAV (the Special Committee for Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply) on how Covid-19 vaccinations for adolescents will be implemented and the latest updated clinical guidelines,” he said in a Twitter post.

       Khairy’s announcement followed the issuance of a Health Ministry circular dated Thursday and signed by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, which said that immunisation for adolescents would be conducted at special vaccination centres set up at hospitals and medical centres.

       It said outreach programmes would also be organised to enable vaccination at schools.

       Dr Noor Hisham said those with underlying medical conditions would undergo a pre-vaccination health assessment to determine if they could be vaccinated or the type of Covid-19 vaccine suitable for them.

       He said the assessment was only for those with a history of severe allergies to medication, are immunocompromised, on anticoagulant treatment or have a medical condition with a tendency to bleed.

       The national immunisation programme is currently in Phase Three, where those aged 18 and above are eligible for vaccination.

       Previously, the country allowed adolescents aged 12 to 17 to register for the programme.

       But due to reports of rare myocarditis (heart inflammation) incidents among teenagers abroad, the plan was put on hold.