FULLY vaccinated folk who are required to get a Covid-19 booster jab will see their vaccination status change to “incomplete” should they fail to get the jab by February. The health minister had announced this in Parliament on Thursday.

This means that they must receive their boosters by the aforementioned date or they will not be able to enjoy the benefits given to fully vaccinated folk.

Although Covid-19 vaccination continues to be effective in preventing severe disease, recent data indicates that it becomes less effective over time, particularly in people aged 65 and older, and in preventing infection or milder illness with symptoms.

The recent Omicron emergence emphasises the importance of vaccination and boosters. Recent evidence suggests that vaccine effectiveness against the coronavirus is decreasing over time among healthcare and other frontliners.

This lower efficacy is most likely due to a combination of decreasing protection with time and the Delta and Omicron variants’ higher infectiousness.

The booster shots programme has now been expanded to include all individuals aged 18 and above as of November 25. Priority is given to frontline health, safety and defence personnel; above-18s; above-40s; people with comorbidities; pregnant women; residents and staff at long-term healthcare facilities; and, those travelling overseas.

Only three vaccines – Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Sinovac – have been currently approved for use as booster shots and third doses in Malaysia.

It is critical to understand the distinctions between a booster shot and third dose.

A booster shot is an additional dose given on top of the previously administered doses. Sinovac recipients will be eligible for boosters three months after their second dose, while Pfizer and AstraZeneca recipients will be eligible six months after their second dose.

The third dose, on the other hand, is an additional dose given to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. This extra dose is meant to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series. It is given 28 days after the second dose, regardless of the type of vaccine received.

Booster doses are highly recommended for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding. They can protect expectant mothers from severe Covid-19, as evidence about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccination during pregnancy and lactation grows.

According to these findings, the benefits of receiving a Covid-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risk of vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Thus, get your booster when you are eligible. The Pfizer vaccine still remains the primary booster option regardless of the primary vaccine used. – December 19, 2021.

* Dr Lim Yin Cheng and Prof Dr Victor Hoe read The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.