KUCHING: Sarawak aims to complete vaccinating 16 and 17-year-olds against Covid-19 before school reopens next month, says Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The Chief Minister said this involved inoculating 96,400 individuals in this age group, who make up 3.4% of the state population.
He said those aged 12 to 15 were expected to be fully vaccinated by the fourth week of October.
"Teenagers in Sarawak will be vaccinated in stages, starting from today (Sept 8) until the end of this week.
"For this initial stage, we are targeting those aged 16 to 17, and those aged 12 to 15 with comorbidities.
"Our target is for teens aged 16 and 17 to be fully immunised before the school starts on Oct 3," he told reporters after visiting the vaccination programme at the Telaga Air health clinic here on Wednesday (Sept 8).
Abang Johari said vaccination for 12- to 15-year-olds with no health problems was scheduled to start at the end of this month, depending on vaccine supply.
There are 192,800 teens in this age group or 6.9% of the state population.
Sarawak is the first state to start vaccinating teenagers, with the programme getting underway in Kuching, Sri Aman, Serian, Sarikei and Bintulu on Wednesday.
"The immunisation programme for teenagers will be carried out in designated vaccination centres (PPV), schools, and health clinics.
"Appointments will be made according to the schools, and each PPV will receive students from several schools each day," Abang Johari said.
In rural areas, he said students would receive their jabs through outreach programmes by the Health Department.
"This will mainly cover Kapit with 9,334 students from 16 schools, and Miri with 207 students from two schools."
The Chief Minister urged parents to bring their children for vaccination, saying it was for their own protection.
"We need everyone's cooperation, from the Health and Education departments to parents, teachers and students," he said.