Frontliners, Elderly To Get Booster Shots After 80% Of Adults Vaccinated In Malaysia

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has announced that the goverment will be offering COVID-19 booster shots to frontliners and the elderly as soon as 80% of the adults in Malaysia are vaccinated.

According to Sabri, this will boost their protection and will begin once the COVID-19 mass immunisation coverage has covered 80% of the adult population in Malaysia. 

"This third dose can increase the level of immunity in individuals who are at high-risk of getting infected with COVID-19 infection, as immunity may decrease after a certain period following the second dose," added Ismail Sabri in a statement on Sunday (19 September) as reported by The Star. 

A panel of healthcare and medical experts will be coming up with the guidelines for the implementation of the booster shot programme which is scheduled to begin early October. 

Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said, "After that, we will open (the third dose) to other groups. (For) these (identified) groups maybe we will be able to administer the vaccines in early October.

"This is important because data shows that they make up the majority of deaths and those admitted to the intensive care unit," as reported by Malaysiakini. 

To date, Malaysia has achieved a full vaccination rate of 78.2% of our adult population according to JKJAV. 

Based on Sabri's announcement the COVID-19 booster shots will be prioritised for: 

• immunocompromised individuals
• elderly with comorbidities
• frontliners
• residents and staff of senior citizen homes

Cover image credit: The Star