Covid-19: Don't try to catch Omicron just because it is milder, says KJ

KLANG: Just because the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is milder and less deadly does not mean people should try to contract the virus to supposedly achieve herd immunity or refuse the vaccine, says Khairy Jamaluddin (pic).

The Health Minister said each individual’s response to the virus can vary wildly.

“We don't know how the effects of the virus will be on a patient, whether he is vaccinated or not, or how the ‘long Covid’ syndrome is going to be.

“There's still no scientific proof to say that getting infected with the Omicron variant will give us herd immunity.

“We know Omicron is milder, thank God, but it doesn't mean we should go out there and get infected,” he said after opening the national level GO-NGO Model KK 2.0 programme to end HIV infections at the Pandamaran health clinic here Sunday (Jan 16).

The programme is a collaboration between the government and non-governmental organisations that utilise government health clinics nationwide to reach out and rehabilitate HIV patients.

Khairy was responding to a question about virologists’ statement that Omicron’s high transmissibility and yet milder symptoms and lower mortality rates could help build herd immunity in societies.

When asked, Khairy reiterated that it has been scientifically proven that any Covid-19 infection would increase one’s immunity.

“That's a natural infection. But do not use that argument to get Covid-19. That's very silly,” he added.

“The ministry’s message is simple, you do not want to catch Covid-19. Regardless of what variant it is. Don’t catch the virus intentionally,” he added.