KUALA LUMPUR: The government will administer a third Covid-19 vaccine dose or booster shot after the nationwide vaccination rate exceeds 80 per cent of the adult population.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in a statement today, said priority for the administration of the third dose would be given to high-risk groups.
Those in this group, he said, include healthcare frontliners, people who are immune-compromised, the elderly with comorbidities and those residing and working at long-term health care facilities.
"The third Covid-19 vaccine dose will help increase immunity against the virus among people in high-risk groups which may wane within a certain period after receiving the second shot of the vaccine.
"A panel comprising medical and health experts is formulating guidelines on the implementation of the booster shot.
"All details involving the administration of a third Covid-19 vaccine dose, as well as the implementation of the Covid-19 Care Package (PPC) will be announced by Health Minister (Khairy Jamaluddin)," he said in the statement.
The prime minister said the government will set aside RM471.6 million for the PPC for those in the B40 income group as the country moves towards treating the pandemic as an endemic.
The initiative, said Ismail Sabri, is expected to benefit 3.6 million families in the B40 household.
"This is to ensure 'Keluarga Malaysia' in the B40 category can protect themselves as well as their family from the virus.
"The implementation of the PPC is also to reduce the financial burden of B40 households apart from training them to continue embracing the new norms, subsequently protecting their family from Covid-19 infection," he said.
The government, he said, will distribute the following items to each eligible family under the PPC.
Among the items include a pack of four reusable face masks and four Covid-19 self-test kits to each family.
Other medical devices to be distributed under the PPC include one pulse oxymeter and thermometer as well as usage guide leaflets and health information.
"The distribution of the items and devices under the PPC will begin with recipients of Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat with households.
"This group are people with B40 incomes who are married with or without children, or single fathers or mothers with children," he said.