Annual booster shots likely following emergence of DeltaCron variant: expert

GEORGE TOWN – The announced discovery of the new DeltaCron variant by the World Health Organisation last Wednesday could trigger a move to introduce yearly vaccine boosters as a long-term solution to the issue, said Penang Medical Practitioners’ Society president Datuk Dr Tan Kah Keong

“DeltaCron was initially thought to be a lab error, but recently it was found to ‘exist’ sparingly in some laboratories. 

“So far, there is not much data on this new variant; none regarding its transmissibility and severity of infection.

“If it really exists, then it is likely that it has already spread widely,” he told The Vibes, when contacted recently.

The DeltaCron variant was first reported by a scientific organisation called the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data.

It had published its data from France’s Pasteur Institute on its website, calling it the “first solid evidence for a Delta-Omicron recombinant virus,” while stating that it has been circulating since early January. 

However, Dr Tan advised the public to not be worried as the present Covid-19 vaccines seem to be working on all these variants and possibly for all future variants. 

“Strict SOPs are still a must as the nation moves into the endemic stage.”

He opined that everyone might need to take booster doses in the future as vaccine protection wanes with time. 

“It may be treated like a flu jab that is taken by most countries that experience winter to protect themselves against the flu.”

The reopening of international borders, he said, is inevitable, even with news of DeltaCron’s threat looming in France, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

“As long as we Malaysians are adequately vaccinated, we should go ahead and open up our borders, with closely monitored tests and SOPs on all travellers.

“Also, the vaccine works. It saves lives, reduces severe Covid-19 cases and hospitalisation, and therefore, all eligible Malaysians should go for it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Penang health exco Dr Norlela Ariffin is redoubling her efforts to convince parents through online channels, parents and teachers associations in schools, mosques, residents associations, community leaders and the Women and Family Development Committee, to vaccinate their children aged five to 11 years. 

These efforts, she said, were due to the vaccination rate of Malay children standing at only 21% and Indian children at 21.2% respectively. 

She is requesting for those who have questions about the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children to join in an online engagement session with the Penang mufti, Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abd Rahman, the Islamic Religious Department, the Education Department, Penang Health Department and Penang Women’s Development Corporation tomorrow at 10am. 

Those interested can register by going here. – The Vibes, March 13, 2022