Sarawak seniors vaccinated with Sinovac can now get booster dose

 

Senior citizens in Sarawak aged 60 and above who received the Sinovac vaccine are now eligible for a booster dose.

According to an infographic by the Sarawak Health Department, senior Sinovac recipients can get a booster shot if they have been fully vaccinated for three months.

Those who want to get their third shot can contact a participating private clinic or the nearest government clinic to set an appointment.

Previously, the booster dose in Sarawak was only given to Pfizer recipients who have been fully vaccinated for six months.

Sarawak is the first state to get booster doses.

At present, the government's programme will only provide the same brand of vaccine as a booster.

However, a government study on "mix-and-match" booster doses is being considered.

WHO considers it third dose, not booster

The extension of the booster shot rollout to include Sinovac came a week after the World Health Organization’s (WHO) advisers recommended that recipients of the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines over 60 years old should receive an additional dose.

However, the panel doesn’t consider the third dose to be a “booster shot”, but instead said it should be offered as part of the recipients’ primary vaccination series.

It said the third dose should be administered one to three months after the second dose, and a different vaccine brand may be used if there are supply constraints.

The recommendation was made in light of growing evidence that the two vaccines - which were based on the same technology - performed “less well after two doses” for elderly people and the third dose is expected to provide a stronger immune response.

Sinovac itself is endorsing a six-month wait after the second dose before administering a booster shot. - Mkini