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Brace for possibility of new Covid-19 wave

PETALING JAYA: The people have been told to brace for a possible new Covid-19 wave in the next few months.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said a new wave of infection may happen based on the virus epidemiology development in other countries.

"The Covid-19 situation in the country is under control. I have repeatedly said there will be highs and lows of cases as well as waves from time to time.

"Maybe in two to three months we may experience a new wave. How far or how big it is, we do not know.

"So people in certain categories, the elderly and those with chronic health problems, are encouraged to top up their immunity with vaccine doses," he told a press conference today.

Separately, Khairy said 397 children received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine under the five-day National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) that was reintroduced today.

From this, 150 were children who just turned five.

Khairy said 107,844 people had taken their second booster dose so far, comprising 57,834 aged 60 and above.

"We will continue to encourage senior citizens and those with chronic diseases to get the second booster dose.

"So far we have not received reports of serious side effects from the second booster dose," he said.

Khairy said the ministry had also distributed a circular and guideline on the use of Paxlovid, the first oral antiviral drug in Malaysia to treat Covid-19 patients, to the private sector on June 16.

The use of Paxlovid, he said, began yesterday.

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