ProtectHealth expands availability of Sinovac boosters
The Health Ministry-owned ProtectHealth Corporation said it is working to expand the number of vaccination centres (PPV) offering Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine as a booster shot.
For now, it said only a limited number of PPVs are offering the Sinovac vaccine as an option for a booster dose, as the majority of PPVs are administering Pfizer’s vaccine instead.
“The PPVs offering Sinovac vaccine will be increased in...
The Health Ministry-owned ProtectHealth Corporation said it is working to expand the number of vaccination centres (PPV) offering Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine as a booster shot.
For now, it said only a limited number of PPVs are offering the Sinovac vaccine as an option for a booster dose, as the majority of PPVs are administering Pfizer’s vaccine instead.
“The PPVs offering Sinovac vaccine will be increased in stages. We would also emphasise that the Technical Working Group under the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force – Booster (CITF-B) still recommends Pfizer and AstraZeneca as the booster dose.
“ProtectHealth through private medical practitioners will continue to assist and work together with the Health Ministry to ensure the booster dose implementation,” it said in a statement today.
The CITF-B previously endorsed booster shots for all fully vaccinated persons above the age of 18, though priority is given for certain vulnerable populations.
For people previously inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine, they are eligible for the booster shot three months after the second dose.
Recipients regardless of age are recommended to get the Pfizer vaccine as a booster, while those above 50 years old may also get the AstraZeneca vaccine.
However, they also have the option of getting the Sinovac booster after the government backed down from an earlier proposal to use Pfizer by 'default' following public backlash.
A government committee had justified using the Pfizer booster based on studies showing that it provides a robust immune response and greater protection against Covid-19.
Apart from the government’s free booster programme, the Sinovac booster is also available through the private market.
Protection against Omicron variant
In another development, Sinovac’s local partner Pharmaniaga Bhd said it and Sinovac are monitoring developments related to the Omicron Covid-19 variant, which was designated as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization on Nov 26.
“We are following closely with Sinovac which is carrying out evaluations to understand the in-depth impact of the Omicron variant on the existing SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine. They often update us on the ongoing research that will determine whether it is necessary to develop a new vaccine against the Omicron variant.
“Sinovac has the expertise and capabilities, as well as the strong production and quality control systems to produce sufficient vaccines, as required,” said Pharmaniaga managing director Zulkarnain Md Eusope.
He said it is “possible” that the protection provided by a Sinovac booster would be sufficient to protect against the new variant.
If needed, however, he said Sinovac has the expertise and capability to quickly develop and mass-produce a new vaccine to meet the latest threat.
“We know that it is only a matter of time before the new variant will spread to Malaysia, so before that happens, let's protect ourselves and boost our antibody levels by getting a Sinovac booster dose,” he added.
