Public advised against taking antibody tests, says Khairy

The public is advised against going for Covid-19 antibody tests as there are no clinical guidelines yet on the matter, says coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said based on guidelines issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration, as well as in other countries, the tests were not recommended.

“There are still no clinical guidelines for which antibody test produces accurate results,” he told a press conference after visiting the Persada PLUS Integration vaccination centre today.

A statement on the matter will be issued by the health ministry soon, he said, adding that a study on the effects of taking the Covid-19 vaccine on the immune system is being conducted by the Institute for Medical Research, with the outcome of the study to be announced to the public.

Meanwhile, on the surge in vaccination rate with 98% of the adult population in the Klang Valley having received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine as of Aug 1, Khairy said the focus was now on states which showed an increasing trend in daily cases.

The science, technology and innovation minister also said he would have an audience with the sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, tomorrow and brief the Johor government on plans to curb the increase in cases in the state through various vaccination strategies.

On the daily vaccination rate, he said Malaysia now topped the list worldwide but with the limited vaccine supply, it would be difficult for the country to surpass the current rate of 400,000 to 500,000 doses a day.

“Not all of our vaccine supply has arrived. When we buy, the vaccine supply will arrive from week to week, weekly deliveries. So it’s very difficult to go beyond that,” he added.