Keep an eye out for side effects

PETALING JAYA: Six-year-old Syed Muzafar Mohd Azlan was cheerfully playing with his cat at home in Semenyih yesterday. No one would have known that just a day earlier, he had been all nerves about getting his Covid-19 vaccination.

But when the time came for the jab, it was a breeze.

“I was nervous before getting my jab. But it was not painful at all. Later, I felt a bit dizzy, but my mum gave me some Panadol and it was gone. I feel healthy all day,” said Syed Muzafar, who received his vaccination at Hospital Tunku Azizah on Thursday.

His mother Normaslinda Nasrudin, 37, was impressed with the youngest of her three children.

“He was full of beans the whole day today! I was the one who felt worse after getting my booster jab,” said Normaslinda, who is hoping that her 11-year-old son, the only unvaccinated member of the family, will get his appointment soon.

Adam Mohd Ali, also 11, said he too felt fine after being vaccinated.

“It is a bit sore where I got jabbed and I feel a little tired, but I still go around doing things.

“I am happy I have protection now and can worry less when I go out now,” said the boy, who suffers from haemophilia, a condition where blood does not clot easily.

His mother Rosmariana Tomin, 42, was relieved that the youngest of her four children has now been vaccinated against Covid-19.

“Because of his condition, he is considered immunocompromised and is at high risk. There was a Covid-19 outbreak in his school and I was worried,” she said.

“Thankfully, now everyone in the family has been vaccinated.”

With the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme now running for children aged five to 11, parents may be wondering how best to prepare their kids to receive the vaccine.

Health experts and paediatricians said it comes down to having a plan – from knowing the dos and don’ts before and after vaccination, to preparing both parents and the healthcare system on how to respond to adverse events, if any.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) public health expert Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said parents must be briefed on what to look out for and what to do in the event their children have an adverse reaction to the vaccine.

Similarly, the healthcare system must also be adequately prepared to respond to cases involving adverse events in children post-vaccination, she added.

Prior to vaccination, parents must ensure that their child is well-rested and has no fever so that they will be less likely to be agitated during vaccination, she said.

“If the child has a fever or is unwell, then make sure it subsides first before vaccination day.

“Ensure the child has enough rest and sleep the night before. They should also have a good meal before the vaccine or immediately after the jab,” added Prof Sharifa Ezat.

She also advised parents to give their children paracetamol if they are in pain or start getting feverish after the jab and to also give them plenty of clear fluids.

“Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness or swelling at the place where the shot was given and try to avoid using the sore arm,” she said, adding that children should also try to reduce exaggerated activities for a few days after jab.

Prof Sharifa Ezat said that if the child has a prolonged fever, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing or other worrying symptoms post-vaccination, they must be seen by a doctor.

“The government must also have a proper guideline on how to deal with cases of adverse reactions and also how to prepare doctors and the healthcare system,” she said.

Consultant paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar Singh HSS advised parents to study the Clinical Guidelines on Covid-19 Vaccination in Malaysia online booklet so that they know what to look out for and can consult their family doctors.

He said if a child experiences any side effects post-vaccination, parents can show their doctor Annex 4, which is on the last page of the guidelines.

It highlights the diagnosis and management algorithm for myocarditis or myopericarditis following Covid-19 vaccination in children and adolescents, he added.

The free booklet is available at https://bit.ly/3uFSPmP.

Within a week of receiving the vaccine, parents should be aware of warning signs and symptoms such as chest pains, breathlessness, palpitations, fatigue, fainting, abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting or low-grade fever, or any combination of these symptoms.

“Parents need to know the symptoms and study the guidelines so that they can consult their doctor and show the doctor what should be done,” said Dr Amar.

He also suggested that the management of all schools focus on improving ventilation in classrooms, offices, toilets as well as other rooms, as a way to curb the spread of the virus among children.