PUTRAJAYA – The Ministry of Health (MOH) has targeted the National Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) to reach 45 percent.
Therefore, Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar urged all parents to take advantage for these final two weeks to get complimentary Covid-19 vaccine for their children by 15 May.
“We have implemented various methods, including opening the Vaccination Centre (PPV) in schools and campaigns under the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force for Children (CITF-C) led by Deputy Minister of Health, Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
“I see that they have carried out their job very well, unfortunately, majority of the parents still think and choose not to allow their children to be vaccinated.
“After 15 May, parents who wish to vaccinate their children need to pay for the service. Only Sinovac will be given under the paid service. Meanwhile, Pfizer will only be given through PICKids, which will be discontinued after 15 May,” he said in a news conference today.
Elaborating further, Khairy said, although the deadline for the vaccination is on 15 May, the MOH will keep some vaccine stocks for those who have yet to reach five years old or will be reaching five years old after that date.
“We also keep vaccine supplies for children who are positive of Covid-19 and have to wait for a one-month period before they are allowed to get their first dose.
“For the others, the deadline is as stated. We cannot afford to extend the deadline due to the expiry date of the vaccine, delivery from the manufacturer and our effort to procure more antivirals,” he added. -MalaysiaGazette
