KUALA LUMPUR: Health experts advised the public to continue adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOP), especially wearing face masks and observing physical distancing, until a substantial portion of the population has been vaccinated against Covid-19.
The advice came following the release of interim public health recommendations by the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stating that vaccinated people could gather indoors with other vaccinated people or with some unvaccinated people of the same household.
Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said it was better for people to continue to adhere to the SOP as a precautionary measure.
"Right now, vaccination will not really protect people against infections or the virus.
"So Malaysians should continue to observe physical distancing and mask-wearing practices even if they get fully vaccinated until the country achieves good vaccination coverage and low community transmission.
"Hopefully, we can achieve both and, subsequently, get the country out of the pandemic by next year or 2023."
Epidemiology and biostatistics expert Associate Professor Dr Malina Osman from Universiti Putra Malaysia also advised people to continue complying with the SOP.
"People who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, where they've got both doses (for vaccines that require two shots), two to three weeks after the second shot, they can create an immunity bubble or get together among themselves.
"However, in our setting and to avoid confusion, I prefer that the guidelines (from the CDC) are implemented only after a substantial proportion, at least 30 to 40 per cent, of our population has been fully vaccinated."
Taking into consideration the current situation and the progress of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, Dr Malina said it was imperative that all parties continue to observe the SOP for the country to win the battle against the pandemic.
"We have to reach a situation where the majority of the population have been vaccinated before we can declare it safe for us to no longer practise physical distancing and mask-wearing."
She said based on scientific findings, a person would be fully protected from Covid-19 two to three weeks after receiving the second shot of most vaccines that were available.
"It depends on the type of vaccine as some vaccines need only one shot instead of two."
She said people should look forward to participating in the NIP.
"In terms of prevention against Covid-19, immunisation is the best option as it offers immunity and is not affected by changes in behavioural patterns."
During a virtual engagement with the media last month, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah cautioned people against forming the expectation that they could go back to the old norms overnight as more people get vaccinated worldwide.
He said the World Health Organisation had the biggest say on whether people around the world could go back to normalcy.
He said until the world health body issued a new guideline, it was important for everyone to wear face masks and follow the current protocols.