ALTHOUGH the priority of Covid-19 booster shots is given to high-risk group members, vaccine specialist Dr Ajit Pal Singh said everyone must get a third dose moving forward.

The Pharmaniaga Bhd vaccine specialist said a fully vaccinated individual’s antibody levels will start to wane after six to eight months of getting both jabs, adding that this may cause breakthrough cases in the country.

“By six to eight months of (vaccine) intake, we do have a decline in antibody levels. That is the time when breakthrough cases will probably start coming in. We have seen this in Israel, Singapore and other countries.

“In Malaysia – which started its vaccination programme in the second quarter of this year – six months down the road, by the end of this year, we may see those kinds of infections happening here.

“So, the right time for a booster is actually six months or later. We need boosters for frontliners, as well as the elderly, immunocompromised and high-risk individuals.

“But at the end of the day, I believe that everyone will be needing this (booster) shot,” he said in a webinar titled Covid-19 Booster Shots and Vaccination for Children.

Last month, Putrajaya decided to offer Covid-19 booster shots to frontliners and the elderly to boost their protection.

Malaysia was granted conditional approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be used as a booster for adults aged 18 and above at least six months after receiving the second dose.

Sarawak will be the first state in Malaysia to administer booster shots.

Sarawak Local Government and Housing Minister Dr Sim Kui Hian had on Monday said 340,000 individuals in the state have been identified as priority recipients and will receive their boosters throughout this month and the next.

Currently, there are more than 25 countries worldwide that have started administering booster shots, he added.

However, Ajit advised against mixing Covid-19 vaccines – for the first two doses or booster – citing risks and lack of scientific data.

“We cannot just mix any vaccine. It has to be scientifically proven before we start mixing.

“One of the top five countries that has started giving boosters successfully demonstrated that when you give Sinovac recipients a Sinovac booster, that effectiveness in the real world is much better compared to Sinovac recipients getting another vaccine (as a booster).

“Though the antibody response it gives is still higher when you mix, but in the real world, the effectiveness is indicating mixing should not be done for booster shots.

“Of course, the data is evolving. We have recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration, Disease Control and Prevention Centres and World Health Organisation, but as of now, if you have enough vaccines, you stay with the same (brand).”

As of yesterday, Malaysia has fully vaccinated 21.6 million (66.1%) of its population. Of the total, 21.2 million are adults. – October 13, 2021.