“This includes SPM candidates (and is meant to) prevent any risk of myocarditis and pericarditis (heart inflammation) as reported by teenagers in the United States who have received their second dose of Covid-19 vaccines,” said the Covid-19 immunisation task force (CITF) today.
In a statement to FMT last month, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said that to date, there were no reports of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) specific to myocarditis/pericarditis received by the health ministry or the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).
“Evaluation is still under way to determine the relationship of this issue to mRNA-type vaccines,” he added.
As of last month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported more than 300 cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) out of more than 20 million adolescents and younger adults who had been vaccinated, most of them males under the age of 30.
Earlier this month, health minister Dr Adham Baba said the government had agreed to only administer the Pfizer vaccine to adolescents with underlying medical conditions for now.
Such conditions include cancer, chronic lung disease or other comorbidities, such as diabetes.
CITF said the health ministry is currently finalising clinical guidelines for administering the Pfizer vaccine to teenagers with chronic health problems and are at a high risk of contracting Covid-19.
While vaccine registrations are open to those aged between 12 to 17, CITF stressed that no appointments have been given to this age group yet.
“The MySejahtera system will continue to accept vaccination registrations for teenagers so that they can be used in the future when any decision is made on this matter,” it said.
CITF said that for examination students who are 18 or who will turn 18 this year, vaccinations will be administered according to the appointments that have been set.
It said this includes STPM and STAM candidates.
The taskforce also said it is working to vaccinate more teachers, school staff and school support staff in preparation for the opening of schools.
The education ministry said last week that schools across the country would resume face-to-face classes in stages from Sept 1.
A total of 253,366 teachers and administrators (61.30%) and 10,876 support staff (46.33%) had received at least one vaccine dose as of July 16.
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