PETALING JAYA: The take-up rate for the second Covid-19 vaccine booster has recorded a surge following an increase of infections since early June.
The increased infections, partly driven by the highly infectious BA.5 Omicron sub-variant, have led to almost double the number of second booster doses dispensed.
Statistics by the Health Ministry revealed that 9,995 people received their second booster dose on Thursday.
In comparison, the average was just 5,126 doses administered per day in the previous seven days and 2,529 doses per day in the seven days before that.
So far, out of 2.57 million senior citizens who had taken their first booster dose, 93,496 (3.63%) have gone on to get their second booster.
On May 12, the government expanded the booster eligibility criteria to people aged 18 to 59 if they have chronic diseases, after consulting a medical practitioner.
Those aged 60 and above can receive a second booster dose voluntarily four to six months after their first booster.
Those aged between 18 and 59 can also receive a second booster dose if they meet certain criteria.
Others who are at clinical risk of severe disease such as chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver disease, among others, can get a second booster dose within four to six months after receiving the first booster dose.
Those aged between 12 and 17 can get their first booster after receiving the primary dose injection following discussion with a registered medical practitioner, or if they are at clinical risk of severe disease.
A total of seven million eligible Malaysians have yet to get their booster dose, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said recently.
Non-boosted Malaysians who have tested positive for the virus or are at high risk are also urged to get the antiviral drug Paxlovid, which has been made available at Health Ministry’s facilities since April 15.
Paxlovid is the first oral antiviral drug in Malaysia to treat Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms (Categories 2 and 3).
