MOH to decide on second Covid-19 booster for under 60s in 2 weeks - KJ
The Health Ministry will announce in a couple of weeks whether a second booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine would be recommended for those aged below 60 and without any comorbidity.
According to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, the matter is being studied by the ministry’s Technical Committee on Vaccination.
“For now, the technical committee is looking into...
The Health Ministry will announce in a couple of weeks whether a second booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine would be recommended for those aged below 60 and without any comorbidity.
According to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, the matter is being studied by the ministry’s Technical Committee on Vaccination.
“For now, the technical committee is looking into whether we are going to recommend a second booster dose to those who do not have health issues and are aged below 60.
“We will make an announcement on this matter in about a week or two,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur earlier today.
Currently, the health authority only recommends a second booster dose for Covid-19 vaccine for senior citizens and those below 60 who have serious health complications such as hypertension, obesity, heart problem, and cancer.
As of yesterday (July 7), a total of 151,018 individuals eligible for the second booster dose have taken it.
Khairy said the figure is only 6.06 percent from the total number of those who are already eligible for the second booster dose, and reminded those who haven’t gotten the jab to do so soon.
“This group - senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and frontliners - are eligible for the second booster dose. They can get it for free from registered private vaccination centres.
“The second booster dose is not compulsory, but it is highly recommended especially as we are facing a new infection wave and expecting much more human movement due to the Hari Raya Aidiladha public holiday and such.
“I beg those who haven’t gotten their booster dose, especially senior citizens and those with comorbidities like hypertension, heart problem, high cholesterol, to get the jab.
“This is really important as we are facing a new wave caused by the BA5 sublineage of the Omicron variant.”
Meanwhile, during the presser, Khairy also reminded those below 60 who are yet to be eligible for a second booster dose to wait for the Health Ministry’s recommendation.
Responding to a question, the minister admitted that there is a loophole in the current Covid-19 vaccination delivery system, where some individuals had taken the advantage to get a second booster jab despite not falling under any of the eligible groups.
“I suggest that they better wait for the ministry’s recommendation because we know the timing and efficacy of the vaccine.”
