THE government has been recommended to proceed with the heterologous vaccination plan (use of a vaccine different from the original vaccine received by an individual) through the administration of booster doses from this month, said Khairy Jamaluddin.

The technical sub-committee chaired by Clinical Research Institute, National Health Institute director Dr Kalaiarasu M. Peariasamy recommended the move to the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee at a meeting last week, said the health minister.

“A study on the safety (of heterologous vaccination) has been implemented, and it is recommended that we continue with our heterologous vaccination plan,” he said in reply to Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort-Bersatu) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Prior to this, the government had considered the method of mixing two vaccines as part of the implementation of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to increase antibody neutralisation and the effectiveness of the vaccines, as done by many other countries.

Sarawak has already started administering booster shots this month, making it the first state to implement the initiative, with a focus on high-risk groups aged 60 and above and those with serious comorbidities.

In response to Mohd Shafie Apdal (Semporna-Warisan) on the Covid-19 situation in Sarawak, Khairy said the ministry is concerned as the state is still recording a high number of daily cases, although most are from Categories 1 to 3.

Khairy said several factors may have caused this situation, including the early reopening of economic sectors from other states, a decline in the effects of vaccinations and need for booster doses for certain groups.

“We also see a trend in Covid-19 cases that involves new longhouse clusters, detection of new variants, types of vaccines and so on. We will take appropriate measures to ensure that the infection rate in Sarawak can be reduced.” – Bernama, October 4, 2021.