Full-dose Sinovac recipients, individuals aged 60 and above must take booster shot by Feb 2022

File photo depicting a syringe and medicines. — DayakDaily.com file pic // Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

KUCHING, Dec 21: All recipients who have received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine or individuals aged 60 and above in Sarawak must take a booster dose by February 2022 to maintain complete vaccination status.

The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said the decision was made following the National Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force-Booster (CITF-B) meeting on Dec 8 which had endorsed the recommendation by World Health Organisation (WHO).

“WHO through the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (Sage) recommends that all recipients of full doses of Sinovac vaccine or individuals aged 60 years and above (regardless of the type of primary series vaccine) should take a booster dose to maintain the status of complete Covid-19 vaccination.

“Therefore, the affected groups in Sarawak must take the booster dose by February 2022 to maintain the status of complete vaccination.

“After that period, the vaccination status will be changed to incomplete and the individual is not eligible to receive the same facilities as given to the recipient of a complete dose of Covid-19 vaccine,” it said in a statement today.

The administration of booster doses will be implemented in private clinics, private hospitals, health clinics, public vaccination centres (PPVs), integration PPVs and by mobile/outreach.

Booster doses in all PPVs are free of charge, including in general practitioner (GP) PPVs and private hospital PPVs.

“Those who are eligible to receive the booster dose will get an appointment date through MySejahtera to attend any of the designated health facilities.

“For those who are eligible but have not yet received an appointment date, they may contact the public PPV, government health clinic or private clinic to get an appointment date or walk in to any integration PPV,” it added. – DayakDaily