By Umie Syazwanie Mohd
KUCHING: Parents and teenagers have expressed delight with the government’s announcement that Covid-19 vaccine would be given to teens aged 18 and below, starting tomorrow.
According to Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas last Sunday, SDMC was making preparations for this following federal Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s statement on this last Saturday.
Rosmawati Zaini, 51, who has a 16-year-old daughter, said she was already prepared to bring her for vaccination.
“Cases are now on the rise and most of them involve children. Some have even died so they desperately need to be vaccinated.”
She added that vaccination for children was vital as schools could be reopened soon, and getting vaccinated would protect them.
Another parent, Olivia Sahim, 51, shared Rosmawati’s sentiments. “If my daughter is vaccinated, she will be protected.”
Olivia, whose daughter is 15, added that she would be more confident in bringing her daughter out occasionally after having being cooped up at home all this while.
“With the vaccine, it’ll be easier for her to go to school and at the same time, she can protect herself and others.”
A student, Siti Norfarina Affendy, 16, was relieved that those 18 and under could now be vaccinated.
“As we all know, the pandemic situation here is not getting any better so that’s why I really need the vaccine.”
While she was excited about this, she was also a bit nervous but “by being vaccinated and with the body building antibodies, at least I can go out to see the world — even for a moment.”
Another student, Faizuzzikri Suhiri, 16, said he was looking forward to being vaccinated due to all of his family members already having gotten their jabs.
“I expect a few mild side effects (from being inoculated) but I also want normalcy to return as soon as possible.”
