Take a deep breath: A health worker administering a dose of CanSino Biologics inhalable Covid-19 vaccine in Lianyungang in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. — AFP
BEIJING: Residents in the capital can start making appointments for an inhalable Covid-19 booster made by CanSino Biologics, media reported, while those in Tianjin city can now get it as the Chinese pharmaceutical firm distributes more supplies.
CanSino’s vaccine, called Convidecia Air, is an aerosol version of an inactive shot and was approved as an emergency-use booster by Chinese health authorities in September.
The financial hub of Shanghai and 13 cities in the eastern province of Jiangsu have already introduced the CanSino vaccine as a booster, the company had said.
Appointments for the vaccine in the capital can be booked on a mobile phone app for residents of one district, the official Beijing Business Daily reported yesterday.
Increasing the uptake of vaccinations is vital for China, which is sticking resolutely to its strict zero-Covid policy that aims to prevent large-scale outbreaks and fatalities, especially among the elderly.
China has relied on domestically produced, inactivated shots and has yet to import, or introduce its own version of an mRNA vaccine.
According to official data, more than 90% of China’s population has been vaccinated.
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Regarding the efficacy of its vaccine, Hong Kong-listed CanSino said in a statement on Wednesday that studies showed “using Convidecia Air as a heterologous booster generated much stronger immune responses than those induced by a homologous inactivated vaccine booster”.
The vaccine will be available in Tianjin from Thursday, it said.
The Hong Kong shares of CanSino rose as much as 11.8% to HK$119.80 on Thursday, their biggest gain since Nov 4. — Reuters
Khairy: Currently, the Comirnaty mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) is the recommended vaccine for a second booster dose based on available scientific data. (Photo by Zahid Izzani Mohd Said/The Edge)
KUALA LUMPUR (April 14): Senior citizens with high-risk comorbidities are eligible to receive a second Covid-19 booster shot four to six months after their first booster dose, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said on Thursday.
Khairy also said that severely immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and above may receive their first booster jab within 28 days of receiving the second Covid-19 vaccine.
"It is not mandatory but optional, and it will be made through appointments," he told a press conference.
Khairy said those aged 60 and above who are healthy and not at risk for comorbidities should discuss with their doctor whether a second booster vaccination would be recommended for them.
Meanwhile, senior citizens who have received a booster vaccination and have tested positive for Covid-19 can receive a second booster vaccination three months after their full recovery, he said.
The minister said Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty's vaccine is the recommended vaccine for a second booster dose based on scientific data available.
On the booster shot for teenagers, Khairy said: "We leave it to the parents to talk to medical practitioners to make a decision. There is no coercion."
The minister said the implementation of this latest recommendation will not affect the full vaccination status of high-risk individuals who do not receive a second booster dose. The Health Ministry is currently updating clinical guidelines detailing implementation, he said.
Khairy said the ministry has also received requests from individuals who want to travel abroad to receive a second booster dose to meet the travel requirements.
"For example, there are some countries in continental Europe that do not recognise Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines as first and booster doses," he said.
"Therefore, people who want to go abroad can receive a second booster dose at least one month apart after the first booster dose to meet the requirements of going abroad," he said.
As of March 31, a total of 701 individuals had received digital certificates of exemption from vaccination for medical reasons.
These individuals will also automatically receive a booster vaccination exemption.
"Individuals who are not eligible for a booster vaccination for medical reasons, especially the primary Sinovac or Sinopharm recipients or senior citizens who have not yet received a digital vaccination exemption certificate will need to submit a new application.
"They must obtain confirmation from a medical practitioner and then submit an application to the nearest district health department," said Khairy.
PETALING JAYA: Feeling boosted by the protection offered by the vaccine, many Covid-19-conscious senior citizens say they are receptive to taking a fourth dose.
Leong King Soon, 62, and his wife Barbara Teoh, 60, have hypertension and diabetes respectively and with their comorbidities, they are among the senior citizens now eligible to get a fourth shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Leong, who took his first booster in December, said he and his wife have so far not contracted Covid-19.
“I have been in close contact with Covid-19 individuals many times as I work as an industrial machine repairman and go to many factories for my job but so far so good.
“Besides taking the standard operating procedure seriously such as wearing a face mask and frequently washing hands, I really think that the three doses of the Covid-19 vaccine I took have kept me protected until now.
“So when the time comes for the fourth dose, I will definitely go get it with my wife,” said Leong.
He added that Teoh, too, had been in close contact unwittingly with Covid-19-positive friends and relatives but she has also been safe so far.
“She only took her first booster last month as she was ill over the past few months and needed her doctor’s clearance,” added Leong.
On Thursday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said senior citizens with comorbidities can get the fourth shot between four and six months after their first booster, while seniors without comorbidities can get a second booster provided they get approval from their doctor.
Seniors who have received their booster dose but have been infected with Covid-19 will be eligible for a fourth shot three months after they recover.
Leong had this to say: “Get the booster for your own protection and ignore all the negative stories that you hear. People don’t remember the positive stories but like to hang on to the negative ones.”
Trader Saifuddin Omar, 67, who has diabetes and hypertension, also believes that the Covid-19 vaccine he took has protected him from the virus.
“Recently, my daughter and her son, who live with me, got infected but they didn’t know until five days later. We all share the same bathroom and eat at the same table but my wife and I didn’t get infected.
“My daughter and grandson (aged eight) are fully vaccinated and only suffered mild symptoms,” he said.
Saifuddin recalled initially feeling scared last year about taking the vaccine after hearing stories about the side effects.
“But now I see that it does help, I feel encouraged to take the fourth dose of the vaccine and will do so soon,” said Saifuddin, adding that he and his wife had their first booster in January.
Retired teacher B. Parimala, 63, does not have any comorbidities and took her first booster last year.
While seniors without comorbidities can get a second booster with their doctor’s approval, Parimala said she would rather wait.
“I was a science teacher so I keep up to date with the latest news about the vaccine.
“I recently read that boosting too often and with the same type of vaccine could reduce one’s immunity, especially against new variants.
“So I’d rather wait than go for the second booster now,” she said.
Parimala, too, warned against adopting a lackadaisical attitude towards Covid-19.
“Long Covid is no joke. My former colleague has such bad scarring on her lungs that she gets winded just walking a short distance. We should all continue to keep ourselves protected,” she said.
KUALA LUMPUR: If you don't get your Covid-19 booster shot by February next year, your vaccination status may be deemed "incomplete", says Khairy Jamaluddin.
The Health Minister said the groups affected by this are those who received the Sinovac vaccine, as well as anyone who is above 60 years old.
"If these groups of individuals still have not gotten their booster shots after February 2022, their vaccination status will be changed to 'incomplete'," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 16).
He said those whose status has been changed to "incomplete" would not be able to enjoy the benefits of those who have been deemed to have completed their vaccinations.
He said individuals who must get their booster shots before the end of February next year are those who had taken the Sinovac vaccine.
He added that those above 60 years old, who had taken a vaccine irrespective of the type of vaccines, will also be required to take their booster shot.
Khairy said this was in line with a recommendation by the World Health Organisation's Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) advice.
He noted that the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force — Booster (CITF-B) had approved and adopted the recommendation on Dec 8.
At present, Khairy said that Comirnaty by Pfizer-BioNTech, CoronaVac by Sinovac and AstraZeneca have been approved for use for booster shots.
The Working Technical Committee, he added, had recommended that those above 18 should get their booster shots.
Get your booster: Khairy speaking at a press conference in Parliament. With him is Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The vaccination status of those required to get their Covid-19 booster shot will be deemed “incomplete” if they fail to get their shots by February next year, says Khairy Jamaluddin.
“If these group of individuals still have not got their booster shots after February 2022, their vaccination status will be changed to ‘incomplete’,” the Health Minister told a press conference in Parliament yesterday.
He said those whose status has been changed to “incomplete” would not be able to enjoy the benefits of those who are deemed to have completed their vaccination.
Sinovac vaccine recipients are among those who must get booster shots by the February deadline.
Meanwhile, those above 60 years old, irrespective of vaccines type, will also be required to get their booster shot.
Khairy said this was in line with recommendation by the World Health Organisation’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE).
He added that the Covid-19 Immunisation Booster Task Force had approved and adopted the recommendation on Dec 8.
At present, Khairy said that the vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinovac and AstraZeneca have been approved for use as booster shots.
He added those above 18 should also get their booster shots.
Booster dosing started nationwide on Oct 13 for fully vaccinated individuals to ensure the immunity received after completing their doses can be maintained for an optimal period, especially against the Delta variant.
Last month, Khairy stressed that Malaysia could face a new wave of Covid-19 infections if the administration of booster doses was not accelerated.
In a tweet later yesterday, he said in line with the government’s effort to ramp up the booster shots vaccination drive, mega PPV (vaccination centres) will be reopened starting with the Klang Valley.
“All 60 and above or Sinovac recipients must get a booster latest by February 2022 to keep (their) fully vaccinated status.
“You will get your booster appointment on MySejahtera 180 days after the second dose (Pfizer or AstraZeneca) or 90 days after the second dose (Sinovac).
“You can also contact GPs near you at https://vaksincovid.protecthealth.com.my/find to register on the waiting list,” he said.
