KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 – The Ministry of Health (MOH) will now offer free Sinovac boosters ahead of the February 28 deadline to retain fully vaccinated status for people initially vaccinated with Sinovac and senior citizens aged 60 and above, but still highly recommends Pfizer or AstraZeneca boosters.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said many Sinovac recipients are reluctant to take a Pfizer booster jab, although real-world studies have shown that mixing Covid-19 vaccine boosters are highly effective in preventing coronavirus infection. Khairy said a total of 3.5 million Sinovac recipients have yet to receive their additional shot.
The MOH has agreed to allow Sinovac recipients to have the option of selecting a Sinovac Covid booster dose once they have received their vaccination appointments, though the ministry still recommends Pfizer and AstraZeneca boosters.
“The analogy is like you go to a country during winter, and the MOH recommends that you wear a coat but you insist on wearing just a T-shirt — it’s up to you. At least wearing a T-shirt is better than not wearing anything,” Khairy told a a press conference in Putrajaya today.
Previously, the MOH offered Sinovac Covid boosters only to people with allergies to other vaccines, but is now offering the inactivated vaccine to those who want it.
Khairy said all senior citizens aged 60 and above as well as all adults who received Sinovac as their primary doses will have to get their booster shot by February 28, or their yellow Covid vaccination certificate on the MySejahtera app will turn white.
“They only have February left to retain their fully vaccinated status. This applies to all senior citizens aged 60 years and older, irrespective of their primary vaccine type, and all adults who were initially vaccinated with Sinovac.
“If they are not boosted, their yellow Covid-19 vaccination certificate will turn white, which indicates that they are not fully vaccinated anymore, and they will be subjected to certain restrictions,” Khairy said.
