KUALA LUMPUR – Director of Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre, University of Malaya (TIDREC) Prof Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar said that it was “unnecessary” to vaccinate teenagers aged 12 to 17.
He explained that this was because the risk of complications and fatality rate is quite low among teenagers compared to other age groups.
“They may indeed contract COVID-19, but the risk and mortality rate is very low. So, if that’s the case, why should they be vaccinated?”
However, Professor Sazaly emphasized that he had no intentions of depriving teenagers of their rights to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
In an interview with Utusan Malaysia, Prof Sazaly also commented on the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency’s (NPRA) approval on administering the Pfizer vaccine for teenagers.
“While there are those who have been vaccinated and it has proven to be effective, the best method is to let them stay at home.”
Sources: NST, Cover image via New Straits Times
Editor: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh
