Covid-19 cases, hospital admissions expected to decline in August, says Khairy

Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions are expected to decline next month when 40% of the country’s adult population is fully vaccinated, says National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said vaccines were able to prevent severe effects of Covid-19 and that the hospital admission rate for the elderly had also shown a decline.

Based on data from Sungai Buloh Hospital, he said the hospital admission rate for Category Four and Five patients among the elderly showed a downward trend in line with the implementation of the second phase of PICK.

“The Covid-19 vaccine is indeed an important protective shield against the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” he said in virtual interview with the media recently.

Khairy also said doubts in the country over the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine were seen to be reducing as many had registered to get vaccinated.

“Maybe there are those who do not want the vaccine because they want to take other medicines, but when (we) announced the things that will be allowed for those who are fully vaccinated, more people will come and get their vaccination,” he said.

On the need for a third booster dose, Khairy said the matter would be updated in the Special Committee for Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply meeting next week.

He said the technical working group would make some recommendations on the booster shot.

Meanwhile, Khairy said the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health had been asked to check the ventilation system at all vaccination centres nationwide to prevent the spread of Covid-19.