James Kon
Brunei Darussalam began administering COVID-19 booster shots for children aged 12-17 at vaccination centres nationwide yesterday.
A number of children aged 12-17 who had the second dose of the vaccine three months ago, were at the Indoor Stadium Vaccination Centre to receive the booster shots.
Awangku Adreen Aniq Shafiq bin Pengiran Anak Mohammed Al-Mokhtar was among the first to receive the booster.
Following his shot, the 13-year-old said, “I wanted to get the booster to strengthen my immune system against COVID-19. The shot did not hurt a bit. I feel alright.
“I didn’t have any side effects after the second dose of the vaccine, but after the first dose, i did have minor symptoms“.
He also urged other adolescents to take the booster shot and added, “Don’t be scared, the injection doesn’t hurt.”
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Abdul Afif Al Warrith bin Eddy Izwan and his stepfather Mohd Zekeria bin Haji Zaini took the boosters together.
Mohd Zekeria said, “Alhamdulillah, the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has provided the people and residents of Brunei the vaccine free. I feel good after the vaccination and I feel much safer now with the booster.”
He added, “I wanted my child to get his booster so that he will be protected in school as well as able to interact with friends.”
Calling for parents to allow their children to take the booster shot, he added, “It is for their own safety.”
Adeel Yura, 12, took his booster shot at the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in Kuala Belait yesterday.
He was accompanied by his mother Noor Amalinie Haji Sulaiman.
In an interview with the Sunday Bulletin, she said, “Adeel is born with a congenital heart disease, truncus arteriousus type 2. We protect him as much as we can from COVID-19 as we do not want him to be subjected to severe symptoms which may affect his heart.
“His last surgery was when he was only three and his doctors are aiming for his next conduit replacement when he turns 18. With his heart condition, we are not taking any risks, and we take all precautions.”
She added, “While the vaccine won’t guarantee Adeel from being infected from COVID, we believe it will lessen the impact.”
In an earlier press conference, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar iterated that it is highly recommended for children aged 12 to 17 to get boosted, although it is not mandatory.
The minister reminded, “Just like adults, the immunity from the two doses of the vaccine will wane over time.”
Despite the recent decline in the number of positive cases in the Sultanate, he said, ”The Omicron variant is still actively spreading. Booster shots will aid in preventing the risk of experiencing serious symptoms caused by the COVID-19 virus.”
Children in the age group of 12 to 17 can book slots for a third dose if three months have passed after receiving their second dose of the vaccine. Bookings can be done through the BruHealth app.
Meanwhile as of Friday, 174 doses of vaccine were administered to children aged five to 11, bringing the total number of vaccinations administered to 9,490 doses which is 22.1 per cent of children in this age group.
The coverage rate for the country’s population having received three doses of the vaccine is 62.6 per cent.
