Vaccination for below 18 only when a state reaches 80 per cent of vaccinated adults

 By Olivia Miwil - September 6, 2021 @ 3:09pm

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor during the press conference at Menara Kinabalu. Also present are Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Sabah Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, Sabah state Health Exco Shahelmey Yahya and Sabah state health director Dr Rose Nani Mudin. - NSTP/MOHD ADAM ARININ

KOTA KINABALU: Vaccination for adolescents will start once a state achieves at least 80 per cent of its adult population have been vaccinated.

Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this would be done based on the availability of vaccines.

"Sarawak has started vaccinating teenagers this week, because 80 per cent of its adult population have been inoculated.

"Once we have enough supply and the state has reached the 80 per cent of vaccinated adult population, we will recommend adolescent vaccination.

"Our focus will be on (children aged 18 and below who are) high risk. We have the updated clinical guideline and those aged 16 to 17 will be prioritised first," he told reporters after chairing a meeting with the Sabah Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force at Sabah Administrative Centre, here.

Also present were Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Sabah Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, state Health Exco Shahelmey Yahya and state health director Dr Rose Nani Mudin.

As for the single-dose Cansino vaccine, he said, the country would only receive 300,000 doses this month due to limited and high global demand.