Speed up study on vaccine for kids, says women’s ministry

The women, family and community development ministry voiced hope today that a study on Covid-19 vaccination for children 12 to 17 can be expedited as part of measures to protect the group.

Minister Rina Harun said this follows the worrying trend of Covid-19 cases involving children in the country, apart from deaths reported due to the infection.

“We hope the vaccine study for children can be expedited because we can see that in other countries they are already giving vaccine to those aged 12 and above, such as Singapore and the US.

“The effort is aimed at reducing Covid-19 infection risk among children, thus protecting the group,” she told reporters after visiting Covid-19 low-risk quarantine and treatment centre at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh.

A total of 147 children have been placed at MITC to date. Of these, 99 are aged 12 to 17 and the other 48 are below 12 years old.

Health Minister Dr Adham Baba was previously reported as saying that as of May 30, a total of 82,341 children and infants had been infected with Covid-19.

Of the total, 19,851 cases involved children below four years old; 8,237 cases, five to six; 26,851, seven to 12; and 27,402, 13 to 17.

Rina also urged parents to comply with the SOPs and to teach their children to practise the 3Ws – wash, wear and warn – to avoid crowded places and to adhere to physical distancing.

“We also hope more special programmes for children will be aired on television throughout the movement control order so that they will not be bored,” she said.