Get boosted if you haven't, Khairy says as Covid numbers rise

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has urged those who have yet to receive a booster shot to do so immediately, as Covid-19 case numbers are on the rise. 

He also suggested that non-boosted Malaysians who have tested positive for Covid-19 and are at high risk receive the antiviral drug Paxlovid, which has been available at the health ministry's facilities since April 15.

Paxloid is the first oral antiviral drug in Malaysia to treat Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms (Category Two and Three).

"Get boosted, if you haven’t. Get Paxlovid, if you’re high-risk and Covid-19 positive," he said on Twitter yesterday.

Khairy also urged Malaysians to wear a face mask when in enclosed or crowded areas, and to practise TRIIS (test, report, isolate, inform, seek).

It was reported that seven million Malaysians have yet to take their booster dose against Covid-19.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was also reported as saying that although the booster dose was not mandatory, it was still vital as positive cases of Covid-19 have returned in an upward trend. He said the dose would also help in facing new variants of the virus, especially the more infectious Omicron BA.5.

Khairy said the distribution of Paxlovid was also available at private health facilities free of charge, but that patients would still be subject to consultation service charges and other related charges determined by the facility.