LETTER | Those above 60, with comorbidities should get Covid-19 boosters

LETTER | The Malaysian Medical Association reminds those above 60 and those with comorbidities to go for their Covid-19 booster shots.

The public is advised not to be complacent about Covid-19 infection. Many questions abound on whether one should still go for their booster shot and this is coming from those who have yet to get their first booster.

The advice from medical experts is to get the first booster as evidence has shown that it reduced the severity of the disease, as well as reduced the risk of hospitalisation if one does get the infection.

Do be aware that the vaccines do not prevent a person from getting the infection but reduce the severity and risk of mortality if one gets infected.

We know that the science behind Covid-19 evolves constantly as our experience grows and as more data becomes available with time.

However, there are those who are waiting for an Omicron-specific vaccine to be available, as well as those who feel that the vaccines do not protect against infection by the variants BA.4 and BA.5.

The virus is constantly evolving and we will eventually face more new variants of Covid-19, which means efforts to produce a variant-specific vaccine will be never-ending 

In the meantime, those who are above the age of 60, as well as those with comorbidities, are encouraged to get their second booster shots, which are available at medical clinics under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).

Just use your MySejahtera app to book your slots, or alternatively, contact any nearby clinics under the NIP for an appointment.

To those who have yet to get their first booster, you are advised to get the shots as the immunity obtained from the first two doses will have already waned by now.

We are at the moment facing a high number of Covid-19 cases along with many influenza-like illnesses, and it is best not to overload the healthcare system with these cases which will deprive medical care for those who need it urgently.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.