KUCHING: A total of 54,000 Pfizer-BioNTech paediatric COVID-19 vaccines from the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) for children, aged five to 11, arrived at Kuching International Airport on Friday night (Jan 28).

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian explained that paediatric vaccines are different from those for adults, not just in terms of dosing but also with regard to how the vaccines are constituted.

“Hence, this requires different scientific data,” said the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister in a Facebook post on Friday night (Jan 28).

He said he was looking forward to the launching of the vaccination programme for five to 11-year-olds in Sarawak on Feb 3.

“This is a very important gap in our COVID-19 vaccination programme and it is timely with the opening of schools when we enter Phase 4 and also living with the virus,” he said.

Dr Sim said approximately 278,000 Sarawakian children are eligible for vaccination.

“We need the parents and teachers to play their role and do their part in our COVID-19 vaccination as part of our war against COVID-19.

“Together we shall overcome COVID-19, including the coming Omicron tsunami wave in Sarawak,” he said.