PUTRAJAYA: "By being inoculated, I hope more people will be more confident in the vaccine. At the same time, I want to show my support to the efforts to eradicate Covid-19 in the country," said a teacher Badaruddin Yahya, 42.
Badaruddin was met after receiving the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine today, part of the Phase 1 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
The English teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 11(1) was one of the four teachers who received the vaccine, together with Senior Minister (Education) Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin at the Putrajaya Medical Centre here.
About 55,539 teachers nationwide in the high-risk category will receive the vaccine as part of Phase 1.
Badaruddin said the national immunisation programme was a good initiative, adding that as teachers, they should support the effort and set an example to the community.
Another teacher, Chan Han Hua from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Sunway, said she was grateful to have been selected to receive the vaccine but admitted she felt nervous before getting the shot.
"I had mixed feelings initially. But I am glad I took the vaccine because I can now return to school to be face to face with my fellow teachers and students," she said adding the vaccine would protect her and the people around her.
The 52-year-old Mathematics teacher said she spent time reading up on the Covid-19 infection and the vaccine, which prompted her to take the vaccine, a decision which was supported by her family.
English and Japanese language teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Precinct 11 (1), Suguna Devi Peariasamy said despite feeling nervous, she was grateful for the opportunity to protect herself, family, fellow teachers and her students against the deadly virus.
Sharing her sentiment was Che Zaini Mat Daud, a Year One teacher from Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 14(1) who said she decided to take the vaccine to ensure her students' health as physical classes would commence next Monday.
"I hope more teachers will get the vaccine. The whole process took me less than 10 seconds," she said.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) kicked off on Feb 24 and will be implemented in three phases.
About 500,000 frontline workers will receive the injection during the first phase which is expected to last until April and the second phase will run from April to August involving senior citizens aged 60 and above as well as vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities while the third phase is scheduled from May this year until Feb 2022 for those aged 18 and above. – BERNAMA