The Malaysian Health Coalition accepts that variants are inevitable in a multi-year pandemic.
We urge responsible and calm reporting from the media and the public, and recommend the government to immediately establish and implement an endemic Covid-19 strategy that includes strategies for the Omicron variant and other possible future variants.
We recommend the following:
Increase Genomic Surveillance
Malaysia has performed successful surveillance for viral diseases since the 1960s. With Omicron detected here, we need to adapt, pool and utilise these existing resources to increase genome sequencing.
According to GISAID (a global non-profit for genomic data), Malaysia sequenced only 0.26 per cent of all Covid-19 cases in the past 90 days, below the recommended 0.7 to 2.0 per cent, depending on case numbers.
Malaysia is under-sequencing compared to other developing countries like Thailand, India and South Africa. Therefore, we must actively build our own genome sequencing capacity through innovative partnerships between the Institute for Medical Research, university research, and private laboratories.
We must sequence more in targeted clusters and at points of entry to understand the spread of Omicron and detect emerging variants. The detection of variants must be coupled with robust real world data collection and analysis of case numbers, admissions, and disease severity to monitor its impact.
We must also invest in R&D to expand the personnel, expertise and infrastructure of our surveillance system. This allows new technologies and tools to be deployed to detect and respond to future variants.
Deploy Boosters Across Malaysia As Quickly As Possible With Good Safety Monitoring
Evidence from clinical trials and real-world data sets proves that boosters are effective against variants. Globally, government policies have increasingly supported boosters.
We commend the government’s decision to expand boosters to more and more groups. However, we urge the government to publicise booster data, including all safety data regarding Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI), to build public confidence about the need for and safety of boosters.
Data transparency on safety and AEFIs will increase booster uptake. We also urge the government to build a sustainable booster strategy, which requires answering the question “Will we need Boosters Round Two, Three or Four?”. Immunological studies may be needed to build clinical evidence to prove the effects of boosters on variants like Omicron.
Implement The National Testing Strategy Robustly
We welcome the launch of the National Testing Strategy (NTS) on November 26, 2021, especially its explicit focus on rapid tests and not over-relying on PCR tests. However, there is no implementation date or implementation plan.
Therefore, we urge its immediate and robust implementation, with strong government action to ensure everyone has equal access to affordable, quality and timely testing. Children under 12 are currently ineligible for the first two doses of vaccine and children aged 12 to 18 currently ineligible for booster doses should be offered more regular testing, over and above the NTS.
The NTS must be evaluated and refined constantly alongside endemic Covid-19, and integrated into the MOH database for centralized data collection and monitoring.
As Covid-19 becomes endemic, new variants are very likely to appear. Malaysia needs a variety of solutions to keep the people safe, and boosters, genomic surveillance and a well-implemented NTS will support public health.
- Academy of Medicine Malaysia
- Association of Malaysian Optometrist
- Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia
- College of Surgeons Academy of Medicine of Malaysia
- Dermatology Society of Malaysia (PDM)
- IKRAM Health Malaysia
- Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia
- Lung Cancer Network of Malaysia
- Malaysian Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology
- Malaysian Association of Clinical Biochemists
- Malaysian Association of Environmental Health
- Malaysian National Society of Audiologists
- Malaysian Nurses Association
- Malaysian Paediatric Association
- Malaysian Pharmacists Society
- Malaysian Public Health Physician Association
- Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists
- Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology
- Malaysian Society of Intensive Care
- Malaysian Thoracic Society
- Medical Mythbusters Malaysia
- Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia
- MedTweetMy
- Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia
- Public Health Malaysia
- Assoc Prof Dr Uma Devi Palanisamy
- Dr Amar Singh-HSS
- Dr Khor Swee Kheng
- Prof Dr Asri Said
- Prof Dr Roslina Abdul Manap
- Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh
- Prof Dr Zaleha Abdullah Mahdy
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
