[UPDATED] Sinovac recipients, elderly must take booster by Mar 1 to retain fully vaxxed status: KJ

KUALA LUMPUR – Adult recipients of the Sinovac vaccine as well as citizens aged 60 and above must take their booster shots before March 1 to retain their fully vaccinated status on MySejahtera, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

The health minister has called on all citizens aged 60 and above to receive their booster shots on a walk-in basis at their nearest vaccination centre (PPV).

“The risk of infection is higher among senior citizens,” he said during a press conference this evening.

Khairy said the announcement involved all those above the age of 60 and anyone who received the Sinovac vaccine as their primer dose.

“If not, the yellow vaccination certificates in MySejahtera will turn white. It will not be (considered) fully vaccinated.”

He said of the 32,034 deaths recorded as of February 6, some 18,362 (57.2%) involved senior citizens.

He added that currently less than 32%, or one million senior citizens, have yet to receive their booster shots.

Khairy said as of Sunday, 25,720,902 (78.8%) of Malaysians aged 12 and above have been fully vaccinated, 1% of children aged 5 until below 12 had gotten their first doses, while 12,361,663 of Malaysians aged 18 and above have received their Covid-19 booster shots.

“The booster shots provide protection from Covid-19, especially with severe complications.”

He added that the daily data gathered showed individuals who have yet to be vaccinated were nine times more likely to be infected and 62 times likelier to die from Covid-19 compared to those who are fully vaccinated and those who took their booster shots.

“The ministry highly encourages Malaysians to take their booster shots as soon as possible to protect themselves, family and country, especially with the rise in cases involving the Omicron variant.” – The Vibes, February 7, 2022