Dr Sim: Study of Covid patients below 12 necessary to know their health condition

Bernama file photo shows a child getting a swab test. — Bernama photo

KUCHING (July 4): A study of Covid-19 patients aged below 12 years old will be considered for implementation in Sarawak to better understand their health conditions, says State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.

“We have found out that about 20 per cent of Covid-19 patients in Serian District are aged below 12. I think we should collect their blood specimen for testing as well as monitoring their lungs condition in the years to come,” he said during a Facebook live session hosted by Kuching South mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng yesterday.

Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Local Government and Housing, said such patients could be called back every five years to monitor their health conditions and that the necessary planning should be carried out now for a cohort study.

“These young patients still have many years of living ahead of them. If we do not conduct a study on them, we may not be certain about their health conditions, and the lungs or heart developments after maybe 20 years.”

Dr Sim said the state Health Department had to be responsible by studying post-Covid conditions due to the patients’ relatively young age profile, and hoped full cooperation would be given.

Regarding the disparities on the appointment time for the second dose of vaccine as indicated by MySejahtera app, Dr Sim said the recipients should always follow the appointment date as stated in their vaccination card issued after being injected with the first dose.

He also said it was still possible for a fully vaccinated person to be infected with Covid-19 but the resulting symptoms would be less severe.

“An example is Senior Minister of Works Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof who caught Covid-19 even after receiving the second dose. He only exhibited mild symptoms.”

Dr Sim said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg will announce additional financial assistance this month to support the local economy.

“Once the economy reopens and herd immunity is achieved, many people could then go out to dine-in at hawkers centres to support our fellow food stall owners.”

Dr Sim also said the federal government had placed an order for 28 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses ad 12 million Sinovac vaccine doses.

from Borneo Post Online https://bit.ly/3AqcBCW
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