Children aged between five and 12 years wait to get their Covid-19 vaccine during the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Kids (PICKids) at Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Shah Alam January 3, 2022. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
LABUAN, April 9 — Labuan has one of the lowest Covid-19 vaccination rates for children in the country and this is partly due to misconceptions among parents, said Labuan health director Dr Ismuni Bohari.
He said just 1.9 per cent or 218 of the island’s 11,700 children aged five to 11 had received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine as of yesterday (April 8).
Only 41.92 per cent or 4,905 of this group have received the first dose, and the take-up rate for the second shot is slow at below 100 walk-ins at the vaccination centres daily, he said.
“Labuan is among the states and federal territories having the lowest vaccination rates for children aged five to 11 years old.
“We can only hope for more parents to encourage their children to take and complete the vaccine,” he told Bernama today.
He said children do get severely sick from Covid-19 or experience long-term complications, and vaccination is the best way to prevent children from getting sick.
Dr Ismuni noted that some parents are still hesitant about vaccinating their children, worrying about side effects although the risks are extremely low and largely confined to adults having chronic illnesses.
“Many parents also question whether the vaccines are even necessary for young children. They mistakenly claim that children do not get sick with Covid-19, when in fact children make up a rising portion of new cases.
“Some parents are reluctant to vaccinate their children because they think the vaccines will do nothing to limit the spread of the virus.
“They have heard incorrectly that the vaccines only limit the severity of symptoms without preventing infections,” Dr Ismuni said.
He said the vaccines prevent both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases and limit their spread in the population.
Dr Ismuni said because of misconceptions about risks, some people chose to ride out the infection and did not want to get vaccinated.
“They forget that even young, healthy people have gotten severely sick and died. They also forget that we get vaccinated not just to protect ourselves but also to protect those around us and the people we love,” he said.
He said vaccination might help to prevent school closures and disruptions to extra-curricular activities. — Bernama