83% of higher education students fully vaccinated as of Oct 1

A total of 83% or 951,739 students at higher learning institutions (IPT) had completed both doses of Covid-19 vaccine as of Oct 1, says Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad.

She said for IPT staff, a total of 117,721 people or 90% had completed two doses of vaccine.

“Overall, we have 1.15 million students. When students start entering campus in stages from Oct 15, they will be screened with self-test kits to monitor and curb the spread of Covid-19 despite being fully inoculated. Screening will be done periodically.

“If any students are infected or become close contacts, we will place them in isolation or quarantine centres prepared by each IPT. IPT operations will not be shut, instead the teaching and learning (PdP) activities of the students will be postponed,” she said during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

She added that if an IPT records a serious number of cases, closure of the IPT will be considered subject to the advice of the health ministry.

Noraini was replying to a question from Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (PH-Johor Bahru) on the development of the vaccination programme for IPT students and the strategy of reopening IPTs.

On Sept 14, Noraini announced that the physical admission of IPT students to campuses would be implemented in stages starting Oct 15, for students who have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations.

The move encompasses all categories of students and all phases of the National Recovery Plan with priority given to students in need.

Through the admission process based on the SOPs of the Higher Education Sector: Operation of IPT, Noraini said apart from students, only staff who have complete their vaccinations and passed the vaccine effectiveness period will be allowed to be on campus.