PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has shortened the interval period for Pfizer and Astra Zeneca vaccines recipients to three months.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the working committee for booster shot had recommended all adults, individuals aged 18-year-old and above, to receive their booster after three months of their second dose.
"The latest data showed that Omicron variant is highly transmissible, has higher viral binding affinity and higher antibody escape from the vaccine or from natural antibody.
"In addition, the strong evidence gathered in the past three weeks showed that the booster may increase the protection against Omicron as well as initial research that involving 21 million doses of boosters that were given in the United Kingdom (UK) proved that it is safe.
"The regulatory bodies in the UK, Canada and Australia and the health expert panel are now recommending for the booster to be given at least three months after the second shot of the Covid-19 vaccine," he said in a press conference today.
He said the priority would be given to the high-risk group such as those with comorbidities, adding that the booster would be given in age de-escalation approach.
Khairy added that the ministry would increase the booster recipient capacity as majority of the adult populations would be eligible to get their third dose in January and February.