Dr Annuar: Vital for teachers to be vaccinated to gain confidence of parents, students, colleagues

SIBU: It is very important for teachers to be vaccinated to gain the confidence of parents, school children as well as their colleagues ahead of school reopening, Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research, Dr Annuar Rapaee, has stressed.

However, he said he had been made to understand that the number of teachers in the state yet to receive their vaccine was very small.

“I was made to understand, the number is very small - estimated to be about 140 teachers in Sarawak who have yet to receive their vaccine.

“From this number (140), majority of them are still undecided but the Education Department is giving them counselling on the importance of getting vaccinated.

“Only a handful are firm in their decision of not wanting to be vaccinated on personal ground.

“I believe with the schools set to reopen, it is important for teachers to be vaccinated to gain the confidence of parents, school children as well as their colleagues,” said the Nangka assemblyman, who is also Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing.

He told reporters this yesterday during his visit to the vaccination centre (PPV) housed in Sibu Civic Centre for the National Covid19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) for adolescents aged between 12 and 15 years in Sibu

Division, which began on Sept 25.

Asked on the number of teachers in Sibu yet to receive their vaccine, Dr Annuar, who is Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (SDDMC) coordinator, said: “I do not have the details.”

During the visit, he advised the students to continue observing the standard operating procedure (SOP).

“Wear double face masks and a face shield, if possible, when going out,” Dr Annuar said.