Govt allows vulnerable groups to get additional Covid-19 shot

The government has announced that individuals above 60 years of age with high-risk comorbidities be given the option of getting a second Covid-19 booster shot four to six months after their first booster dose.

Meanwhile, adolescents aged 12 and above who are moderately or severely immunocompromised will be eligible for their first booster dose. This can be administered after at least 28 days have elapsed since their second dose.

In a broadcast press conference today, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that those over 60 without comorbidities could also opt for the additional dose upon the advice of a medical professional at least 28 days after their second Covid-19 vaccine dose.

"This decision was made after the Technical Working Committee examined scientific research, as well as the Malaysian research cohort, which indicated that individuals above 60 with comorbidities such as lung, heart and kidney diseases and diabetes are at higher risk to face severe symptoms and death due to Covid-19," he said.

Individuals who are above 60 are considered “high-risk” if they suffer from liver disease, cerebrovascular disease, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, chronic neurological patients, have a body mass index (BMI) above 40 or are long-term residents at a care centre. 

Meanwhile, individuals who suffer from cancer, are organ transplant patients, undergo long-term hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis or other symptoms listed in the Health Ministry’s clinical guidelines are considered moderate or severely immunocompromised. 

Those above 60 years old with booster shots as well as a recent Covid-19 infection should wait at least three months after recovery before getting their second booster shot.

Khairy stressed, however, that this implementation is purely optional and will not affect the vaccination status of high-risk individuals. 

He added that in order to avoid vaccine wastage, the second booster shot will be done on an appointment basis.

“Appointments will allow us to provide a sufficient amount of vaccine supply. However, if we do it on a walk-in basis it would be difficult to determine how many will turn up,” he said.

Additional shots for travel needs

Individuals who are keen on travelling are also eligible for the second booster at least one month after their first booster dose, to fulfil the vaccine requirements of other countries.

Khairy said this is because some European countries, such as Germany, Iceland, Luxemburg and the Czech Republic do not recognise Sinovac and Sinopharm as primary or booster doses.

On the other hand, he said that while France does not recognise Sinovac as a primary dose, it accepts the entry of individuals who have been administered with an mRNA vaccine, such as Pfizer or Moderna.

"But in countries such as Germany, that is not possible. They require primary doses of mRNA. That is why I announced that those who want to travel to countries such as Germany and those who have previously received Sinovac might request Pfizer as their second booster dose.

"We didn't know back then that these countries would not recognise these vaccines, but other countries such as Australia and United Kingdom do. And at that time, we had pledged (to the public) to take whatever vaccine that was available at that time," he added.

All booster doses to be administered will be the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. 

701 individuals exempted from vaccine

Meanwhile, Khairy announced that as of March 31, 701 individuals in Malaysia have been exempted from vaccination due to medical reasons. In turn, they have automatically been exempted from receiving booster doses. 

He urged individuals who are not eligible to receive booster doses for medical reasons, especially those who have received Sinovac and Sinopharm doses or those above the age of 60, to put in a new request for a digital Covid-19 Vaccination Exemption Certificate. 

“These individuals will have to get the authorisation of a medical officer and later apply at their district health office by producing their pre-vaccination assessment slip,” he said. - Mkini