KUALA LUMPUR – Amid concerns about the reopening of state borders once the Covid-19 vaccination rate among the adult population hits 90%, Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau-BN) said interstate travel per se does not contribute to a higher caseload.
Commenting on the issue in the Dewan Rakyat today, the health minister said it is the violation of standard operating procedures, such as by participating in large gatherings, that needs addressing.
“The decision to allow interstate travel on its own does not increase cases, but congregations (of people) do. So, we will have to look at public health measures.
“(Reopening) the borders and (allowing) mobility alone is not really the issue.”
Khairy was responding to a call by Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor-PH) for the government to review its decision to allow interstate travel.
Dr Dzulkefly said even if 90% of adults are vaccinated, this makes up only about 50% when taking into account the children population.
Khairy said based on the Health Ministry’s projection, the vaccination rate for the entire population will be more than 60% by then, especially with the ongoing immunisation of teenagers.
In a statement yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that interstate travel and tourism activities will be allowed to resume when the vaccination rate among adults reaches 90%.
To a question from Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (Pontian-BN) on whether this means Putrajaya has revised its herd immunity threshold from 80% to 90%, Khairy said the ministry has stopped using this term.
“When we started our vaccination programme, we used the conventional formula of calculating herd immunity, which is typically between 70% and 80%.
But the emergence of the Delta variant has thrown off this calculation, and it is now difficult to say when we’ll achieve herd immunity.”
This is why the government is looking to ensure the broadest possible vaccination coverage for the entire population, including by inoculating children, he said.
On comparisons made with New Zealand, he said the island nation is able to implement a hard lockdown whenever there is a Covid-19 case due to the extremely low infection figures there.
“In New Zealand, it is undertaking containment measures to keep cases at zero. But in Malaysia, Singapore and many other countries, we are taking the approach of living with Covid-19.”
This is in reference to the government’s stand of moving into the endemic phase by the end of next month, with the SOPs reflecting this decision to be announced in due time. – The Vibes, September 23, 2021
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