Selangor govt to start vaccinating adolescents after procuring 150,000 doses of Sinovac

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government will embark on an exercise to inoculate adolescents in the state against Covid-19 under the Selangor Vaccination (SelVAX) programme.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the state had procured 150,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines for this purpose and expect to vaccinate 75,000 adolescents aged between 12 and 17.

He said the vaccination programme targeted students in tahfiz schools and various religious schools as well as Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools.

Amirudin added that the state government will work with all the relevant agencies including the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and state assembly constituency offices, as well as the state Education and Health Departments.

“We will be going directly to the schools to vaccinate the students.

"This is an efficient method which ensures no one misses getting vaccinated," Amirudin told a press conference at the State Secretariat building on Thursday (Oct 7).

He said the state government will roll out a vaccination schedule for the programme in stages within a week’s time.

Amirudin added that students with health issues would not be vaccinated.

“Those with critical and serious illnesses will not be allowed to receive the vaccination," said Amirudin, adding that he was certain there were not many youngsters with critical health problems.

The Mentri Besar said state executive councillor in charge of public health Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud had also informed the Federal Government of the state's programme and was given the green light.

Amirudin said the Selangor government wanted to work in tandem with the Federal Government in matters related to Covid-19 immunisation.

On another matter, Amirudin disclosed that disciplinary action will be taken against state government employees who refuse to be vaccinated.

“The state legal adviser had given advice and a briefing on the matter as well as the type of action that will be taken," he said.