PUTRAJAYA: The AstraZeneca vaccine will be included back into the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme mainstream vaccine list following the public's encouraging response towards the vaccine, said National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minster Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said the decision to implement the voluntary or opt-in method was made after seeing the public's hesitancy to accept the AstraZeneca vaccine due to reports linking the vaccine to cases of blood clots.
"After seeing the vaccine being well-received, we see that the hesitance towards the AstraZeneca vaccine has been reduced.
"So we made the decision that we will not implement AstraZeneca through an opt-in method for the upcoming months but instead include it back into the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme's mainstream vaccine list," he said during an online media conference today.
Khairy also said the COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV) meeting will consider the COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Selection Committee's (JKPCV) recommendation regarding the suggestion to prolong the interval for the second Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine dose from three weeks to six weeks.
The decision to prolong the vaccine dose interval will depend on the spread of variants of concern (VOCs) in the country, he said.
"Although the strategy for us to prolong the interval of Pfizer-BioNtech doses from three weeks to six weeks will enable us to vaccinate more people, the decision must be balanced. We will see how the VOCs' existence will impact the effectiveness of the vaccine," he said.
According to him, data shows a single dose of Pfizer-BioNtech only provides 33 per cent protection against the B.1.617.2 variant or India variant, while two doses of Pfizer-BioNtech will offer 88 per cent protection.
"Although the decision is a good strategy in terms of coverage, as many people will receive protection, but from the quality protection against the B.1.617.2 variant, it is much lower.
"We will see the prevalence of VOCs and if the localities where VOCs are prevalent is low, then we can make a decision to increase the interval between two Pfizer-BioNtech doses," he said.
Currently, Khairy said the government decided to maintain the interval between the first and second Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine doses at three weeks in areas where there is a prevalence of VOC B.1.617.2.
"This is in line with the latest decisions by other countries that view a single dose does not offer effective protection to vaccine recipients against the B.1.617.2 variant," he said.
Last Tuesday, the Health Ministry detected the first case involving a local who tested COVID-19 positive with VOC India B.1.617.2, in which the patient was a close contact of an Indian national who was in the same flight from Kuala Lumpur to Labuan on April 23.
Meanwhile, Khairy said the MySejahtera application will be updated soon to enable the public to choose the type of COVID-19 vaccine they wanted, including the freedom to choose the date and place of their vaccine appointment.
"I think we learn a lot of lessons from the website and I think it is easier to do everything on MySejahtera, and I think it is better for us to encourage the people to use the app.
"We will be looking at how you choose your appointments, place, date as well as vaccine and we want to make the process as easier as possible for people. We are working with a few options right now, and we will announce them over the next couple of weeks," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu May 27 2021
Khairy said the AstraZeneca vaccine will be included back into the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme mainstream vaccine list following the public's encouraging response towards the vaccine. -- BERNAMA filepic
Jualan penyaman udara naik mendadak di negara Balkan
Menetap di negara sejuk, mereka tidak pernah terfikir memasang penyaman udara di dalam rumah memandangkan musim panas bukanlah setiap hari. Namun, cuaca panas melampau membuatkan mereka bertukar fikiran.
Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Kerajaan Malaysia mengecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan Masjid Al-Aqsa oleh ekstremis Zionis Israel pada 13 Ogos.
Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham
Ayah kepada penyanyi dan Youtubers Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar reda dengan pemergian anak lelakinya walaupun itu bukan pengakhiran yang beliau harapkan.
Ahli perniagaan diberkas, terlibat dalam aktiviti kumpulan mafia
Seorang ahli perniagaan Itali ditangkap di bandar Natal, Brazil pada selasa.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Srettha hormati keputusan mahkamah
Srettha Thavisin menghormati keputusan Mahkamah Perlembagaan Thailand yang memecatnya daripada jawatan Perdana Menteri.
Lahir empat hari lepas, bayi kembar maut angkara serangan rejim Zionis
Kembar lelaki diberikan nama Asser manakala Ayssel pula nama diberi buat kembar perempuan, kedua-duanya lahir pada 10 Ogos lepas.
Lelaki tikam ibu saudara direman tujuh hari
Seorang lelaki yang disyaki menikam ibu saudaranya di kepala dengan gunting, semalam direman selama tujuh hari hingga 21 Ogos ini.
PN senarai pendek tiga calon, akan diumum selepas PRK Nenggiri
Perikatan Nasional telah menyenarai pendek tiga calon untuk bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 28 September depan.
10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu
Menurut PGOB kesemua mangsa yang cedera telah dikejarkan ke Hospital Bintulu untuk rawatan lanjut.
Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham dibawa ke Hospital Shah Alam
Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar yang ditemukan di Sungai Klang petang tadi dibawa ke Unit Forensik Hospital Shah Alam (HSA) untuk urusan bedah siasat.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Tahap pengurusan rantaian bekalan akan dipertingkat - PM Anwar
Mesyuarat MPN Ke-6 Tahun 2024 hari ini bersetuju dengan beberapa langkah bagi meningkatkan tahap pengurusan rantaian bekalan yang kukuh, berdaya tahan dan responsif kepada gangguan.
Olimpik Paris: Lyles raih gangsa acara 200m lelaki, meskipun positif COVID-19
Lyles terpaksa berpuas hati dengan pingat gangsa dalam acara 200m, dengan emas menjadi milik atlet Botswana, Letsile Tebogo.
[KOLUMNIS] Bahaya maklumat salah: Ancaman keamanan dan keharmonian di Malaysia
Maklumat yang salah bukan sahaja ancaman di negara-negara Barat tetapi juga semakin menjadi masalah besar di Malaysia.
KKM belanja RM137 juta setahun bagi menyelenggara 201 klinik kesihatan
KKM membelanjakan sebanyak RM137 juta setahun bagi menyelenggara 201 buah klinik kesihatan di seluruh negara di bawah PSK dengan kontrak selama 5 tahun bermula tahun 2022.
Olimpik Paris 2024: Atlet renang Australia tarik diri selepas positif COVID-19
Atlet renang Australia Lani Pallister terpaksa menarik diri dari acara bebas 1,500 meter selepas positif COVID-19, menurut pasukan negara itu pada Selasa.
Biden kembali ke Rumah Putih selepas beberapa hari pengasingan COVID-19
Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Joe Biden tiba semula di Rumah Putih pada Selasa selepas beberapa hari diasingkan akibat COVID-19 dan di tengah-tengah khabar angin mengenai kesihatannya.
Gantung Parlimen: 2 wakil rakyat dibenar mulakan semakan kehakiman
Mahkamah Persekutuan membenarkan dua wakil rakyat memulakan semakan kehakiman bagi mencabar nasihat Muhyiddin untuk menggantung Parlimen sepanjang tempoh darurat pandemik COVID-19.
Biden pulih daripada gejala COVID-19, ujian negatif
Ujian antigen pantas BINAX adalah negatif, bagaimanapun, beliau akan terus dipantau untuk sebarang penyakit berulang.
Biden alami gejala COVID-19 ringan, ambil ubat antiviral
Kevin O'Connor berkata gejala yang dialami presiden itu mempengaruhi sistem pernafasannya.