PETALING JAYA: Vulnerable groups who face a higher risk of contracting Covid-19 are encouraged to take the additional booster shot, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The high-risk groups include senior citizens and those who have comorbidities such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
The advisory does not apply to the public at large.
“Vulnerable folk with comorbidities such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are encouraged to take the third dose or what is called the additional booster dose,” he told a press conference at Parliament yesterday.
On precautionary measures against the virus in view of the spike in cases, Dr 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 is still in effect for positive cases.
Earlier, at the Health Ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya, Dr Dzulkely said there were adequate vaccine supplies in the ministry’s inventory.
He said while the uptake for the first booster shot had hit 50%, the rate for the second booster was still low.
The take-up for the second booster shot remains at 2.5% of the targeted population.
Dr Dzulkefly attributed the spike in cases to the year-end holidays and festive season and the movement of people during this period.
The number of Covid-19 cases jumped from 6,796 cases two weeks ago to 12,757 last week, according to Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan.
The KKMNow website shows that as at Dec 11, there were 20,017 active cases with 446 hospitalised patients. Currently, there are eight cases that are unventilated and 13 ventilated in the intensive care units.
