CHILDREN aged between six months and five years with comorbidities or weak immune systems will be offered the Covid-19 vaccine, Khairy Jamaluddin said.

The health minister said the ministry has started the process of procuring the vaccine with a special formulation for the group involved.

He said the matter was recommended by the ministry’s technical working group on August 3 regarding the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine involving the primary dose, booster dose and second booster dose.

Khairy said children aged five to 12 years also can now be given the first booster dose, citing it helps in facing the disease caused by the highly infectious Omicron variant.

“It is also recommended to give the first booster dose to children aged five to 12 years with comorbidities or weak immune systems to increase the effectiveness of the vaccine against severe diseases caused by the Omicron variant,” he said at a press conference today. 

“The group of children is at risk of severe Covid-19 infection. Booster doses can be given within six to nine months after receiving the last vaccine dose.”

Khairy also said pregnant women and lactating mothers will also be offered a second booster dose.

He said these groups of women are categorised as vulnerable because they are at high risk of getting severe disease due to Covid-19 infection.

He said Covid-19 infection can increase the risk of getting complications that can affect the pregnancy and the development of the baby.

“The available data show that mRNA vaccines are effective at reducing the risk of getting severe infections during pregnancy,” he said.

“Antibodies produced by pregnant women taking the vaccine are also detected in the baby and can help protect the baby from infection.

“The vaccine safety data also does not show any increased risk of miscarriage, pregnancy complications and birth defects or any concerns over the safety aspect for pregnant women who receive the mRNA vaccine.”

Khairy said those at risk of severe illness due to Covid-19 can also receive a second booster dose at any time throughout pregnancy.

He said for now, only the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is approved to be given as a second booster to individuals aged 50 and above, individuals aged 12 and above with weak immune systems, at-risk individuals aged 18 and above, pregnant women and healthcare workers.

He, however, said heterologous vaccines with an mRNA vaccine or viral vector vaccine for a second booster dose can be given to individuals at high risk of severe disease due to Covid-19. – September 7, 2022.