Parents want kids in school

GEORGE TOWN: Parents are worried over the presence of the latest Covid-19 variant, but they still prefer that their children attend school and study in a physical environment.

Lim Mei Yin, 50, an executive with a company here, said she wants her children to be in school physically as it is important for their education.

“Of course, I am worried, but we cannot afford to have schools closed again as it will affect our children’s learning,” said the mother of two.

Lim said she has never stopped reminding her children to practise standard operating procedures (SOPs) as advised by the health authorities, such as washing hands, observing physical distancing and always masking up wherever they went.

She said that her children and their friends were happy and excited to return to school for the last school term before Chinese New Year.

“We still need to practise the dos and don’ts everywhere we go to avoid infection,” she said, adding that her entire family is fully vaccinated.

Businessman Vince Yeoh, 50, whose two daughters attend SJK (C) Han Chiang, said as a parent, he is definitely worried about the new variant but is confident the school will take the necessary precautionary measures.

Back to school: Students wearing their face masks walking into SJK(C) Han Chiang in George Town. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

“From what I know and have seen so far, the school has been practising good and strict SOP, and therefore, I am less worried for my children,” he said.

However, Yeoh said he always reminds his daughters to be extra careful and to always wear their masks while at school.

“With the SOP in place at school, I am not too worried because my girls are used to the new norm since the pandemic began,” he added.

Another parent, Philip Ong, 45, said even with the new variants, the learning process for students must still go on.

“I would still like for my children to go to school.

“I don’t want their education to be disrupted like during the pandemic, because in the end, the children will be the ones feeling lost (in education).

“So, although I am satisfied with the SOP at the school, I still remind my daughters to always observe precautionary measures while at school,” he said.

The Star visited several schools and found pupils and students excited to be returning to school yesterday for the final term of 2022.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa recently urged the public to get their vaccine booster shots as soon as possible.

She said those who have exceeded the six-month period since their first booster shot should get a second dose without waiting for the bivalent vaccine to be available.

She added that the monovalent Covid-19 vaccines offer effective protection in preventing serious symptoms and fatalities, besides reducing hospitalisation rates.

“The bivalent vaccines will be supplied soon as the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency has already given its conditional approval,” she said, adding that an announcement will be made on recipients’ eligibility after the supplies arrive.

The conditional approval for the bivalent vaccine was given on Dec 14, and the supplies are expected to arrive in Malaysia early this year.

Bivalent vaccines provide protection against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and Omicron subvariants like BA.4 and BA.5, which were previously said to be vaccine-resistant.

Dr Zaliha also said that she hoped to see an uptake in booster shots, especially among high-risk individuals, as only 49.8% of Malaysians have received their first booster dose and 1.9% their second.

She advised the public to observe precautionary measures and the SOP, as well as to practise TRIIS (trace, report, isolate, inform and seek treatment).