KUALA LUMPUR: The first booster shot administered to teenagers has been re-categorised as the third dose to complete their primer vaccination, says Deputy Health Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
However, he later clarified that this was only recommended for moderate or severely immunocompromised teenagers aged between 12 and 17 years old.
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“This means three months after completing their third dose, they can take their first booster and after four to six months they can take the second booster,” he said during the Oral Question and Answer in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Aug 3).
“For children especially those who are at high risk or are moderately immunocompromised, they can take the third dose at least eight weeks after the second dose,” he added.
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He said this initiative came into effect on July 18 and added that while there are no serious side effects from the booster shot, mild ones may be possible.
He also advised frontliners and those who are travelling abroad to get their booster shots.
Noor Azmi (BERSATU-Bagan Serai) was responding to a supplementary question by RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) on the alleged risk that is being circulated online and the efforts taken by the government to convince people to get the second booster dose.
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He said the vaccine-induced immunity will wane in four to six months therefore it is important to get the booster shot.
“We need a booster because of waning effects and because of the variants we have such as Omicron though it is not serious it is very infectious,” he said.
He also raised caution that with infectious sub-lineages such as BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron, cases, hospital admission, ventilators utilisation and ICU occupancy have been on the rise.
Therefore, Noor Azmi urged those who are aged above 60 years old, especially those with comorbidities, to get their second booster shot.
