PEOPLE should not take the current Covid-19 situation, dominated by the highly infectious Omicron variant, lightly, as not all new cases are in mild categories, the Malaysian Medical Association warned.

Its president Dr Koh Kar Chai urged everyone to get maximum protection, saying there is every possibility for one to contract severe Covid-19 even if they have received two doses of the vaccine.

“While most cases of Covid-19 now are mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic, there are still cases where individuals contract severe Covid-19 or long Covid-19 even after full vaccination.

“Therefore it is best to get the maximum protection available against Covid-19 with the booster shots.

“For those still unvaccinated, they should not wait any further as Omicron is spreading more quickly in the community compared with earlier Covid-19 variants,” Dr Koh said in a statement today.

Yesterday, the Health Ministry reported 25,099 new cases.

According to the statistics provided by the ministry, 24,999 cases are in the less severe Categories 1 and 2 while 100 cases are in the more serious Categories 3, 4 and 5.

Meanwhile, of the new cases registered, only 1,510 people were hospitalised yesterday.

A total of 181 admissions were in Category 1, 751 in Category 2, 235 in Category 3, 309 in Category 4 and 34 in Category 5.

Dr Koh said that the low hospitalisation rate is due to the high uptake of vaccination in the country.

He said the data also proves that boosters are benefiting many.

“To those who have yet to take the booster shot, especially those with comorbidities and are above 60 who have yet to take their first dose, you are at high risk of developing severe Covid.

“Don’t add yourselves to the daily rate of severe covid cases or even deaths,” he said.

With the government now making all vaccine types available for booster shots, he urged people to quickly get jabbed, as he said the healthcare system would be further burdened if vaccinations are delayed.

“The government has made available (the amenity to choose) the type of vaccines (one wants), though, by and large, Comirnaty by Pfizer is more accessible. The next available choice, which is Coronavac by Sinovac, is also available, but not in all vaccination centres.

“People are advised to go for whichever vaccines are available and not sit on (their decision) as we need to overcome the current wave of the Omicron variant, which, though said to be mild, can still overwhelm our healthcare system with disastrous consequences,” he said. – February 22, 2022.