KUALA LUMPUR: Although taking the second booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is not mandatory, those who voluntarily take it have their reasons why they feel compelled to do so.
Datin Fuzianna Ibrahim, 59, who has lymphoma cancer, said she chose to get the second booster dose because the illness she was dealing with affected her immune system, exposing her to a high risk of contracting the virus.
“Indeed, in my case, (taking the second booster dose) is very necessary because I have cancer and had a stem cell transplant, which further decreases my body’s immunity.
“I want to because I have a comorbidity, and I travel a bit; I want to be more protected... I asked my doctor if it was possible, and he strongly advised it,” she told Bernama.
The former pharmacist suggested those who have cancer like her or who are at risk of being exposed to Covid-19 infection due to other factors such as old age to not be afraid of getting a second booster dose.
Media practitioner Anis Hazim Sharudin, 26, decided to take the second booster dose due to her frequent travels abroad.
“I am aware of the higher risk of infection with Covid-19 when I am in a closed area, such as in an aeroplane, and I have previously tested positive for the virus after returning from abroad.
“Adapting to life in the new norm, especially the need to come back to work in the office, made me want to take a booster dose as protection,” she said.
Anis added that getting a booster dose through the MySejahtera application was also very easy for her, given her busy work schedule.
“I highly recommend it to family and friends. Everything is done via the MySejahtera application. It takes a week to book, and the clinic of my choice is only 10 minutes from home, no need to queue, and the whole process is less than 30 minutes,” she said.
Content creator Zainol Arif Zainal Bahrin, 25, who will be taking his second booster dose tomorrow, feels that it is his social responsibility to curb the spread of Covid-19 and protect himself.
Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Director-General of Health, recently stated that booster doses are available at 1,293 vaccination centres (PPV) nationwide, including 104 Health Ministry hospitals, 754 health clinics, and 435 private PPVs.
He said those in priority groups could get vaccinations without an appointment or via ‘walk-in’ at a hospital, health clinic, or private PPVs, while other categories needed to book an appointment through the MySejahtera application or call a private PPV.
Based on the latest data on the KKMNOW website, a total of 16,297,142 individuals, or 49.9% of the population, had taken the first booster dose, and from that figure, only 759,815 or 2.3% chose to get the second booster dose.
