Any vaccine is better than none - Khairy
SINAR HARIAN REPORTER
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry recommends the use of Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca as the third dose for the Covid-19 vaccination but highlights that any vaccine is better than none.
Its minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in a Twitter posting that the Pfizer or AstraZeneca booster shot provides the best-added protection but there were still some groups asking for other options, namely the Sinovac vaccine.
“Any booster is better than any booster.
“We strongly recommend a Pfizer or AZ boost.
“But something is better than nothing,” he in a Twitter post.
His posting came with a retweet of a post by ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd today, which stated that the Sinovac vaccine will be available for walk-ins at all offsite vaccination centres (PPV) under the National Immunisation Programme for free starting Feb 14.
According to ProtectHealth’s statement in the posting, those who are eligible for the booster dose and wish to obtain the Sinovac type vaccine can check the list of Offsite PPVs at www.protecthealth.com.my.
“However, the Health Ministry is still recommending Pfizer boosters for Sinovac recipients as it offers a higher level of protection,” it said.
Khairy had earlier said recipients who had Sinovac as their primary doses could now choose the same type of vaccine for their booster dose.
The decision, he said, was due to the reluctance of Sinovac vaccine recipients to take booster doses of different types such as Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
He was also reported saying that there were 3.5 million Sinovac primary doses recipients who have yet to receive their booster shots.
He added that the ministry will provide their appointment dates soon.
In other developments, Khairy congratulated Sarawak and Melaka for their high percentage for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids).
“Congratulations to Sarawak and Melaka for their quick action in providing protection for the children.
“Thanks for keeping your children safe from Covid-19,” he said in a tweet.
