Scientist commends Sabah's proactive move to vaccinate teens

 By Olivia Miwil - September 16, 2021 @ 3:17pm

Rick Gynorie, 16, receiving vaccination at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. - Pic courtesy of Jidon Janaun

KOTA KINABALU: Scientist Dr Jidon Janaun did not waste any time to get his son inoculated when Sabah decided to allow Covid-19 vaccination for teenagers starting today.

The Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Innovation and Commercialisation Management Centre director said his family had been waiting for the moment 16-year-old Rick Gynorie would get the same protection through vaccination.

"We are very sure that the vaccine is helpful and hope for all of our family members to be protected.

"When the announcement was made, without any hesitation, I brought my son to the UMS vaccination centre here," he told the New Straits Times.

Jidon added that the process took about three hours from registration until after observation.

He said about 80 per cent of those who walked in to the centre were teenagers, including 12-year-olds. All of them were accompanied by their parents.

The centre provides a maximum of 3,000 vaccine doses per day.

Previously, the Health Minister had said that vaccination for adolescents could only be implemented when the state achieved 80 percent of adult vaccination.

As of Sept 14, 53.9 per cent of adults in Sabah have completed their vaccination.

Jidon said it was a proactive move taken by the state government to vaccinate teenagers as they were about to resume their school sessions.