KUALA LUMPUR – Those aged 18 and above who have received the Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines are eligible for booster shots as early as three months after receiving their second dose, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said in a press conference today that this programme will be rolled out in January or February, and that vaccine recipients with comorbidities and chronic illnesses will be prioritised.
He said those aged 60 and above, as well as other adults who are recipients of the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and CoronaVac (Sinovac) vaccines are encouraged to take their booster shots at least three months after their second doses.
Khairy added that individuals with comorbidities, residents and workers in long-term healthcare centres, and other related individuals aged 18 and above have received their booster shots in accordance with the “age deescalation approach”, starting with those aged 50 and above, followed by those 40 and above, and finally those 18 and above.
He said latest data compiled by the ministry showed that the Omicron variant can raise the infectivity rate and has a higher viral binding affinity and rate of antibody escape from the vaccines or natural antibodies.
Khairy also said there was strong evidence collected over the past three weeks showing that booster shots increased protection against the Omicron variant, based on a study conducted on 21 million recipients in the United Kingdom that showed convincing results.
He added that regulatory bodies in the UK, Canada, and Australia have approved of the three-month timeframe for booster shots.
Meanwhile, the travel restrictions on several African countries – South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe – have been lifted.
Khairy said they will be alongside 10 other high-risk countries in a list that includes the UK, United States, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Norway, France, Denmark, India, Canada, and Nigeria.
“Sarawak, which leads in dispensing booster shots in Malaysia, has demonstrated that they work as the state is seeing a downward trend of less than 1,000 cases weekly.
“Those that want to go to the Holy Land for their haj or umrah pilgrimage must receive a booster shot prior to their trip. While quarantining at home upon return, they are advised to carry out daily self tests.”
On the Omicron variant, Khairy said that until December 25, the ministry’s Institute of Medical Research had conducted PCR Genotyping Assay tests on 366 Covid-19 samples related to 21 travellers, 306 of which showed potential of infection by the variant.
Meanwhile, Khairy said data from MySejahtera showed that 1.4% of Covid-19 cases placed under the home surveillance order (HSO) had violated quarantine.
He added that the ministry is considering taking action against individuals who do not comply with the order. – The Vibes, December 28, 2021
