PETALING JAYA: The second batch of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines will prioritise senior citizens aged 60 and above, science, technology and innovation minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.
In a press conference, Khairy added that the government was also expanding this batch of the jabs to Johor, Sarawak and Penang as they are red zones, along with the Klang Valley.
He said the expansion of the initiative was consistent with the call to focus on areas which record a high number of infections on a daily basis.
Registration for the vaccines for senior citizens will be open from May 23 to 26, through the website and via a community outreach programme at district health offices.
The government, he said, would allocate a quota at these health offices to offer the vaccine to senior citizens in these three states and the Klang Valley.
“If by May 26, there are still slots available, we will open it up to all who are below the age of 60.”
However he said those who have been waitlisted in the first round of this particular exercise, will also receive their shots.
Meanwhile, Khairy revealed that Sarawak has agreed for AstraZeneca to be made available on a voluntary basis.
“We will contact their health department to discuss the best mechanism to implement this.”
It was previously reported that Sarawak had initially rejected the vaccine due to public concerns over its side effects.
Khairy went on to say that Putrajaya was looking into the possibility of an extended interval when it came to administering the Pfizer vaccine.
“But that has to go through the expert working group before a recommendation is made to the special committee on Covid-19 vaccine supply access guarantee (JKJV).
“Only then we will make a decision on whether or not we can extend the interval for Pfizer.”
He said such a practice was being done with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
He was commenting on Singapore’s possible plan to administer the first dose to as many people as possible, and delay the second dose following the rise in the number of community cases there.
Khairy also said the government would be able to “ramp up” the Sinovac vaccine supply this month and in June as well.
“From July onwards, we will be getting 2.5 million doses – 2 million Prizer and half a million of Sinovac – a week.”
He said this when asked to respond to the opposition’s claim that the national Covid-19 immunisation programme was “very slow”. - FMT
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