M.Krishnamoorthy
A media coach, adjunct professor and author
What’s shocking is that Singapore says a second COVID-19 booster is not recommended for people aged 60 to 79, and in contrast, Malaysia has recommended a third booster shot for the elderly.
However, Singapore’s Ministry of Health added that the jabs would be offered if requested.
Last week, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for vulnerable groups like senior citizens.
Especially for those who have comorbidities such as diabetes and blood pressure issues. Comorbidities is the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient.
“Vulnerable groups with comorbidities such as non-communicable diseases (NCD) are encouraged to take the third dose, or what is called the additional dose,” he said at a press conference in Parliament on Thursday (Dec 14), adding that the recommendation is for high-risk groups.
On precautionary measures against the virus, given the spike in cases, Dzulkefly said the public, especially those with symptoms, are encouraged to mask up and avoid crowded places to protect themselves and others. He said the five-day quarantine period was still in effect for positive cases.
At the Health Ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya, Dzulkefly said there are enough vaccine supplies in the ministry’s inventory.
The number of COVID-19 cases jumped from 6,796 two weeks ago to 12,757 last week, according to Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan.
The take-up for the second booster shot remains low, with only 2.5% of the targeted population having been inoculated with the shot.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, the Expert Committee on COVID-19 (EC19V) does not recommend that people aged 60 to 79 years take a second booster shot, but they can take the jab if they wish to, said Director of Medical Services Kenneth Mak on Friday (Apr 22).
The second booster vaccine dose should be administered about five months after receiving the first booster. This timing is based on Singapore's local data, which shows that the waning of vaccination protection takes place after 150 days, said Dr Mak at a virtual press conference held by the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force.
Channel News Asia reported that those in the 60 to 79 age group could receive their second booster by walking into any vaccination centre offering mRNA vaccines before 7pm.
This is in addition to the earlier recommendation of a second booster for some groups - those aged 80 and above, residents of aged care facilities, and the medically vulnerable.
The vaccination effectiveness for those older than 60 remains well above 80 per cent; in some cases, it reaches 90 per cent at the 120- to 180-day mark after booster vaccination.
"This affirms the importance of having up-to-date vaccinations to reduce the risk of getting severe infections and dying from COVID-19," he said.
The data also shows some benefit of a second booster dose in those aged 60 to 79, but not to the same "great extent" as in those above 80. He said it was because the incidence of severe infection in these age groups is lower than in octogenarians.
In even younger age groups, between the ages of 12 and 60 years, data suggests that the second booster dose is "not as beneficial at this time" as the risk of getting a severe infection is much lower unless they already have chronic medical conditions.
Dr Mak said there was some overall boosting against all infections, but the effect waned rapidly after about two months.
"So, if we need to provide the second booster dose for the younger population, this is more appropriate as a strategy to augment immune protection in a time when we are experiencing a new wave of a highly transmissible or highly virulent novel VOC (variant of concern) rather than at a time where the situation is improving," Dr Mak said.
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (www.imkrishna.net) is a media coach, adjunct professor and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German and Australian Television networks and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns about going undercover as a beggar, security guard, blind man, disabled salesman, and Member of Parliament.
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