PICKids: Terengganu intensifies vaccination awareness campaigns during Ramadan

KUALA NERUS, April 2 (Bernama) -- The Terengganu government will intensify awareness campaigns on the importance of getting children vaccinated against COVID-19, including through tazkirah (short religious talk) slots at mosques and suraus in the state during the month of Ramadan.

State Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Dr Alias ​​Razak said this was because Terengganu still recorded the second-lowest vaccination rate under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) since it was launched last February.

He said as of yesterday, only 12.4 per cent (22,240 people) of the overall 178,700 children aged five to 11 in Terengganu had received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

“Although various campaigns on the importance of vaccine have been implemented, including through the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) and Maghrib lectures, the level of awareness is still very low,” he said.

He said this after launching the Nafas Baru Bermula Ramadan Campaign and the state-level Cakna Undang-Undang Kesihatan Awam operation, here today. Also present was state Health director Datuk Dr Kasemani Embong.

Dr Alias said despite facing challenges in eliminating the negative perceptions of parents towards the vaccine, the state government would adopt a more prudent approach in dealing with them.

-- BERNAMA