SOME people are still hesitant to get their first booster shot despite the number of Covid-19 cases spiking over the past couple of weeks in the country.

They told The Malaysian Insight that they would want to “wait and see” if the situation worsens in the coming weeks.

A stall owner who only wanted to be known as Rafiq, said he would only take the booster shot once it became compulsory.

“Although I don’t think the government should make it compulsory, if it comes to that point, then I’ll take it,” said the 32-year-old based in Damansara.

“People who took the booster shot are still catching the virus, so I don’t see how it would benefit me.

“Someone with three doses of vaccine is getting the virus and the symptoms are equivalent to an individual with two doses. So I don’t see the point.”

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Monday that seven million Malaysians have yet to take their booster shot against Covid-19, advising them to do so immediately.

He said although the booster dose was not mandatory, it is still vital amid a fresh wave of Covid-19 cases, and would help in facing new variants of the virus, especially the more infectious Omicron BA.5.

Rafiq said he is not that concerned about the new variant.

“There will be new variants every now and then so that means we have to constantly take booster shots,” he said.

Last week Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the ministry had detected five BA.5 sub-variant cases through genomic sequencing as of June 30.

The health minister said they had detected 13 Omicron sublineages, including six BA.2.12.1 cases, five BA.5 cases, and two BA.5.2 cases, which are being closely monitored.

Meanwhile, driver Lee Zheng, 41, said it is pointless to take the booster shot.

“Once we take this booster shot, the government will then announce another booster, then it goes on and on with another one,” Lee said.

“I’ve already been traumatised after taking my second dose as I felt very sick so I won’t be doing that again,” said Zheng, who hails from Ipoh.

According to him, no one in his family has also taken the booster shot.

“We are happy and satisfied with the two doses we’ve gotten so no booster shot for now.”

A marketing associate who only wanted to be known as Ramesh, said the government should focus on those who are not vaccinated at all instead.

“I read the news that more than seven million people have yet to get the booster shots, but what about those who are not vaccinated at all?” the 27-year-old asked.

“That should be the government’s focus as they are considered the most vulnerable against Covid-19,” said Ramesh, who resides in Ampang.

He added that even if he is boosted, he can still catch the virus as there are many out there who are not vaccinated at all.

“Even at my workplace, I know there are some who have yet to get vaccinated.

E-hailing driver, Shafiq, 27, said he will only get his booster shot if he is going overseas.

“This is because I won’t know what the situation is in the other country,” he said.

“But with the current situation of our economy, I don’t see myself travelling any time soon, which means I won’t be getting my booster shot anytime soon as well,” said Shafiq from Seremban.

Salesman Cheryl, 29, said she was hesitant to even get the first dose of vaccine.

“Due to the government ‘forcing’ us, I had no choice but to take the first two doses,” said the Johor native.

She said she did not want to be vaccinated initially as she practises good hygiene.

“Also, I don’t really trust the vaccine because to me it all looks like a money-making business,” she said.

Nicole said she is now contemplating whether to get her booster dose.

“I am worried looking at the number of Covid-19 cases and currently do not feel that it is safe to go out,” said the 27-year-old from Malacca.

“So I might go and get my booster shot soon.

“But if there’s one thing I would like to highlight, is that the government keeps telling us to get our booster shots but they never mention where it is available.”

Malaysia yesterday reported a drop in Covid-19 cases with 2,417 fresh infections, as opposed to 3,264 the day before.

Five fatalities were reported yesterday, of which two were declared dead on arrival, taking the death toll in the country to 35,816.

The new infections brought the case total since the onset of the pandemic to 4.6 million.

Sabah logged 164 cases, followed by Negri Sembilan (138), Penang (112), Malacca (66), Johor (59), Kedah (41), Putrajaya (37), Sarawak (30), Kelantan (28), Pahang (28), Terengganu (15), Labuan (6) and Perlis (1). – July 13, 2022.