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This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on February 14, 2022 - February 20, 2022

COVID-19 VACCINE DEVELOPMENTS

 

The current resurgence in Covid-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant has not strained the national health system, largely because of the high vaccination rate in Malaysia, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. Average hospital bed utilisation was more than 68% as at Feb 10.

 


The Covaxin Covid-19 vaccine, manufactured by Bharat Biotech International Ltd in India, has been given conditional approval for use during disasters — with continuous evaluation by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority required, said Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

 


Nearly 80,000 children aged between five and 11 in Malaysia had received their first dose of the vaccine as at Feb 10. Recipients will receive the second dose after eight weeks.

 


The Ministry of Health has shot down Pharmaniaga Bhd’s claim that the Pfizer-BioNTech booster for Sinovac’s vaccine recipients is less effective against Omicron, with its Institute for Clinical Research describing the claim as a misrepresentation of “prevailing facts and evidence”. The ministry continues to recommend Pfizer or AstraZeneca as the preferred booster for Sinovac vaccine recipients.

 

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