Govt okays booster jabs for high-risk groups

Putrajaya has agreed to roll out booster shots of Covid-19 vaccine once 80% of adults in the country have been fully vaccinated.

Priority will be given to those in high-risk groups such as frontliners, the immunocompromised, senior citizens with comorbidities and those who live or work at long-term care facilities.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the third dose would increase the immunity level for those at high-risk of Covid-19 infection which might decline some time after the second dose.

“A panel of health and medical experts is working to lay out the guidelines for the implementation of these third shots,” he said in a statement today.

He also announced an allocation of more than RM471.6 million for a new initiative to ensure that those in the B40 group can protect themselves from infection.

Under the Covid-19 Care Package, families in the low-income bracket will be given reusable face masks, self-test kits, pulse oximeters and thermometers to help them monitor their health.

As of yesterday, 78.2% of the adult population had been fully vaccinated with 93.1% given at least one dose including of the single-dose CanSino vaccine.

Just over 40 million doses of vaccine have been administered so far under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

The country is expected to have 80% of its adult population fully vaccinated by Sept 21.