YOURSAY | Give more options to those taking booster shots

YOURSAY | ‘Little science or data on mixing Sinovac and Pfizer.’

Many missing Covid-19 booster appointments, rues KJ

Demi Rakyat: Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, pushing the Pfizer vaccine for those who had taken Sinovac is not right since there is absolutely no study whatsoever about mixing Sinovac with Pfizer. There is no science or data on this. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

I have a feeling that the government is pushing Pfizer strongly because money is involved. And as many have speculated, maybe the Pfizer shots are also all nearing expiry date.

Again, if the government seriously care about health and the rakyat, offer Sinovac for those who have previously taken Sinovac and you will see the acceptance response shoot up overnight.

KitP: I agree. I'm definitely not an anti-vaxxer. However, mixing different vaccines, especially Sinovac and Pfizer, which work very differently on the body's immune system, has me very concerned.

I also don't see that there is enough data to assure that practice is safe.

YellowOrca7359: I am above 60 years old, and I received the notification to take the booster jab, presumably Pfizer. I did not go.

I would prefer Sinovac since the first two jabs were Sinovac. In MySejahtera, when one is not taking up the offer, there isn't any suggested reason for choice of vaccine. The closest is "I have other things to do".

JW: The US dragged their feet on accepting China’s vaccine. The UK first made it inconvenient for recipients of China's vaccine to visit the country by having them go through a longer quarantine.

Why? Are they just blindly and idiotically hitting out at China because they now feel threatened by a rising China? Or is it just bigotry?

Now that they both have accepted China’s vaccine, Khairy should start allowing recipients of Sinovac to get a Sinovac booster for free, similar to what the government has been offering Pfizer for free to people who first got Sinovac.

A lot of people are not comfortable with mixing their vaccines even though heterologous vaccine is considered safe. That discomfort is not without sound common sense.

Meanwhile, earlier it was announced that those who first received Sinovac could get a Sinovac booster but for a price of about RM180. Why? Why not give it out free like the Pfizer booster?

When that happens, I am quite sure the number of people getting the booster will increase.

It does not make sense for the government to give Pfizer booster for free when it is more expensive than Sinovac. Then, again, this is nothing new in Bolehland.

And Khairy, even though he has been doing well so far, seems to lose the plot here, not understanding the not unfounded common sense of people questioning the impact of mixing the vaccines.

Yes, the science may not warrant that concern but that has not stopped people from using common sense to decide for themselves.

Emm Anuel: The majority of the commentators here are against mixing Pfizer as booster with Sinovac, which is also the strong recommendation of a Sinovac scientist mentioned in a recent Phamaniaga news update.

This scientist also suggested a third booster jab should be given after six to 12 months from the jab in order to get the best result.

I am called to go for my booster jab which is Pfizer after four months from my second dose of Sinovac. Surely, I will not go for mixing vaccines without knowing much about the consequences.

Now I can have my booster jab of Sinovac at RM150 from a private clinic in Petaling Jaya after six months from my last jab. Paying RM150 in exchange for peace of mind is worth it!

Bogus Reformasi: China has just announced that its citizens who received Sinovac for more than six months only are advised to take the booster jab. Why is the interval only three months for Malaysians?

China’s decision is based on science. Is Khairy’ decision based on science or money?

Malaysia Bharu: Yes, there was a recent article allegedly from Sinopharm China that those given Sinovac as first and second dose must be given the same vaccine as booster and only six months after the second dose.

The Health Ministry on the other hand in its MySejahtera notice is not disclosing the type of vaccine (inactivated Sinovac or RNA Pfizer) it is administering as booster.

I personally became very weak after the second dose of Sinovac and took two months of special care to recover my health. Wouldn't it be a risk to mix and match Pfizer as booster and so soon after the second dose administered at end of June?

And also, the Health Ministry has scheduled the booster at end of four months after the second dose. Also, the booster administration on Monday, Nov 1 is notified by SMS on Saturday, Oct 30. It is too short a notice.

These could be the reason for the poor turnout.

Mazilamani: Exactly. Is Khairy aware that many are given very last-minute appointments?

At least offer a one-week prior notice. Not all of us check the messages in MySejahtera daily or regularly.

I was one of those who missed the booster appointment. I have requested a fresh date with an explanation of why I missed the appointment. Until today, I have not received my new appointment.

Wong Fei Hoong: Khairy should find out why so many are rejecting the booster dose and should not threaten the public that there would be an increase in hospitalisation cases because of this.

You will fail as a minister if you fail to contain Covid-19 cases. Do some research first before you babble away.

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