PETALING JAYA: A group of 323 students have become among the first teenagers to receive Covid-19 vaccines in Peninsular Malaysia.

       The students, aged 16 and 17 years old, from SMK Putrajaya Presint 8 (1) in Putrajaya are among the first to receive their jabs under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for teenagers, Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said in a Facebook post on Monday (Sept 20).

       “This is a vaccination programme for groups of teenagers aged from 12 to 17 years old.

       “Overall, there are a total of 377,591 students aged 16 and 371,676 students aged 17 across the country.

       “This morning's vaccination process took place in an orderly and structured manner.

       “Upon arrival, students, who were accompanied by their parents or guardians, needed to register and take their temperature. This was followed by a counseling session and consent before being allowed to receive the vaccine,” he said in his post.

       Radzi said the ministry will work with the Health Ministry and the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) to assist in the registration of school children for the vaccination, as well as to identify schools to be used as vaccination centres for students.

       Earlier Monday morning, he had visited SMK Putrajaya Presint 8(1), Putrajaya with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to kick-off the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) for teenagers.