By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Jan 11: Individuals who have received the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine are strongly encouraged to get two additional doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, which is the optimal combination, according to Deputy Premier of Sarawak Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Dr Sim told reporters this today after officiating at the ‘Hand and Healthcare Environment Hygiene’ seminar at Sarawak General Hospital’s (SGH) Clinical Research Centre (CRC) Auditorium.
“Those with Sinovac are strongly advised to go get another two doses of Pfizer. That is the best combination you can get.
“Another aspect is that some people want a third dose and are wondering where they can get the most recent vaccine, which we will discuss with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to determine what the national policy is,” he disclosed.
On Jan 8, Dr Sim, who is also the Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, advised Sarawakians who have been administered with China-made vaccines for their first two doses to go for American-made vaccines as their booster shot.
He asserted that it is to help reduce severity and fatality.
Meanwhile, he emphasised the importance of hand hygiene, especially since everyone is now living the new norm.
“Hand hygiene is so important, especially now (everyone is) living normal, and it doesn’t mean when Covid-19 is over, you forget what hand hygiene is.
“And hand hygiene is always important in hospitals as one of the major causes of hospital infection is due to (lack of) hand hygiene.
“So, remember to keep cleaning your hands as you did during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as in hospitals,” Dr Sim added. — DayakDaily
