PETALING JAYA: Some cautious Malaysians are deciding to boost now rather than later in a bid to shield themselves against the more contagious Covid-19 Omicron subvariants currently driving up case numbers nationwide.
Business development manager Jenny Brown, 43, is one of the people planning to get their fourth shot soon.
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“Thankfully I have never caught Covid-19, but prevention is better than cure. It is scary to see friends who have been infected get reinfected.
“Also, there’s a new strain and I hope with the booster, I’ll be better protected or at the very least, experience very mild symptoms if I am infected,” she said.
Content writer Joshua Fernandes, 26, is also wishing to take a second booster in light of the rising Covid-19 cases.
“Cases are rising so I should definitely take it. But I don’t know yet where or how, hopefully it’s not too inconvenient,” he said.
Although consultant Raymond Lim, 62, received his second booster a few weeks ago, and was reinfected with Covid-19 a few days ago, he believed that getting the booster was the right choice.
“This sub-variant is too strong. I tested positive but I’m now recovering and my symptoms are mild, such as sore throat, chills and cold sweats.
“Although getting a second booster did not prevent me from getting Covid-19, at least it prevented my symptoms from being really severe,” he said.
There are, however, those who preferred to wait for an updated Covid-19 vaccine that can tackle the new variants.
Housekeeper Simone Lee, 30, has not taken even the first booster, and has no intention of doing so despite the rise in cases.
“I would prefer if the pharmaceutical companies come up with an updated vaccine because I feel that if we keep injecting a vaccine that is not effective, then it is quite pointless to keep taking it.”
Housewife Azizah Mohd Ariffin, 29, also did not take her first booster as she had caught the virus before, and believes that her young age as well as her natural immunity from the previous infection are sufficient.
“So, despite only having taken two doses in 2021, I believe that my body is strong enough to fight another reinfection,” Azizah said.
