Covid hospitalisations increasing among children 11 and below, says Khairy

Covid-19 hospitalisations among children below the age of 11 have increased, with new cases reported from the fifth to sixth epidemiological week this year up nearly 160%, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

Speaking at a press conference, he said a total of 6,524 cases were recorded among children from newborns to 11-year-olds.

Of the total, he said, 2,282 cases were detected in children aged four and below, while 4,242 were reported among those aged five to 11.

“During the sixth week, there were 16,959,” he added. “10,796 cases among children aged five to 11, and 6,163 cases among newborns to four-year-olds.

“There has been a rise in the number of paediatric cases which includes admissions,” he said.

Khairy also voiced concern over the registration for Covid-19 vaccination among children which he said remained low.

“For five to 11-year-olds, there is already a vaccine approved and being implemented in Malaysia,” he said.

“So far, we have seen a fairly good response but registration has not reached one million.”

He urged parents to encourage their children to follow the SOPs, whether or not they have been vaccinated, and to cultivate a healthy lifestyle by staying active and eating nutritious food.

“With the significant increase in cases among children, we hope that parents will come forward to give permission for their children to be vaccinated,” he said.