LABUAN: Covid-19 vaccination for schoolgoing children on this duty-free-island is nearing completion, with over 68% having completed their second dose.

       Labuan Health Department director Dr Ismuni Bohari said the vaccination exercise for students aged 16 and 17 was completed last week but over 30% of children aged 12 to 15 had yet to complete their inoculation.

       “Parents must ensure that their children complete the vaccination because once the vaccination centres (PPV) are closed, the exercise will have to be done via appointment at government or private clinics,” he said.

       He added that 86.05% of the total 10,094 students aged between 12 and 17 had received at least one dose of vaccine, and of the number, 68.25% had completed their second dose as at Oct 16.

       Meanwhile, in an engagement programme organised by the Education Ministry in collaboration with the Information Department and media fraternity yesterday, pupils aged 12 started to receive the second dose at SK Sungai Lada PPV here.

       Parents and pupils there appreciated being prioritised for the vaccination exercise.

       Bohasney Borhanordin, 42, a civil servant, said the exercise would help ensure a safe learning environment.

       “My 12-year-old son is excited to return to school after being restricted from going out for the past few months... he received the first jab last week,” he said.

       Jamilah Abdul Majid, 41, also a civil servant, said the Federal Government through the Education Ministry had played a proactive role in ensuring pupils and students were fully vaccinated before the reopening of schools.

       “For those whose families have hesitation about getting the vaccine, they must think of other students’ safety, but I believe that once they see the majority of people getting it, they will feel encouraged to get it as well,” she said.

       Jamilah’s son, Muhammad Abd Aziz, 12, a pupil of SK Sungai Lada, said he felt happy to get his second dose yesterday.

       “I can’t wait to see my schoolmates and teachers again, and I want to return to proper studying mode after a long break,” he said.

       Christina Lee Abdullah, 46, said the vaccination exercise should be made compulsory to ensure schools were a safe place for learning.

       “We cannot afford to have another cluster from a student or teacher who is reluctant to get the shots, and this is unfair to other students and parents,” she said.

       “Over the past nine months, students have told us about spending too much time on screen, struggling with their mental health, exercising their creativity in quarantine, maintaining socially-distant friendships, being unsure whether or not they have experienced ‘learning loss’, and this vaccine will speed up my daughter’s return to school.”

       Her daughter, Andrey Lee Abdullah, 12, said, she could not wait to get the second dose after the first last week.

       Another civil servant, Noorlihan Abdul Alip, 40, whose children received their vaccination yesterday, felt assured as the vaccination rollout for schoolchildren was nearing completion.

       Her son, Muhammad Zhafiy Izzfan Rafizal, 12, of SK Sungai Lada, said the vaccine opened up a lot of possibilities for people his age, from school activities to birthday parties, and it would be “cool” to get back to those things, especially after almost a year of missing important milestones. — Bernama