KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the public are advised against going for a Covid-19 antibody test as there is still no clinical guideline issued on the matter, says National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said based on the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration of the United States, as well as other countries, the test was not recommended.
“There is still no clinical guideline on which antibody test produces accurate results,” he told reporters after visiting the Persada PLUS Integration Vaccination Centre yesterday.
A statement on the matter would be issued by the Health Ministry soon, he said, adding that the Institute of Medical Research was carrying out a study on the effects of the Covid-19 vaccine on the immune system.
“The outcome will be announced to the public,” he said.
On Operation Surge Capacity to cover 98% of the adult population in the Klang Valley with at least one dose of the vaccine by Aug 1, Khairy said the focus was now on states which had been showing a rising trend in daily Covid-19 cases.
The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said he would be having an audience with the Sultan of Johor today, as well as briefing the Johor government on plans to curb the increase of cases through various vaccination strategies.
He said although Malaysia now topped the list worldwide for vaccinations, the limited supply of vaccines made it difficult for the country to surpass the current rate of 400,000 to 500,000 doses a day.
“Not all of our vaccines have arrived. When we buy, the supply will arrive from week to week – a weekly delivery.
“So it’s very difficult to go beyond that,” he added. — Bernama
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