KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is calling on those who are entitled to get a booster dose to do so, especially those who have been inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine.
In a Twitter post, Khairy said while Sinovac is effective, there is evidence that its effectiveness wanes sooner.
"Why a shorter booster interval for Sinovac (three months) vs Pfizer/AstraZeneca (six months)? While Sinovac is effective, there is evidence its effectiveness wanes sooner.
"This is Category 4 and 5 weekly admissions into Sungai Buloh Hospital. That's why we want you to take whatever booster is on offer," he said, accompanied with data on admission by type of vaccination into Sungai Buloh Hospital.
Based on the data of Epidemiology Week 35 to 45, those who were administered with Sinovac topped the list of admission into Sungai Buloh Hospital.
On Week 35, 48 people in Category 4 and 5, who had completed their Sinovac vaccination, were admitted into the hospital.
Over the same week, only 15 people in Category 4 and 5, who had been administered with Pfizer, and two (administered with AstraZeneca) were admitted to the hospital.
During Week 36, 86 people (administered with Sinovac) were admitted to the hospital, compared to five (administered with Pfizer) and seven (administered with AstraZeneca).
Week 37, 58 people (administered with Sinovac) were admitted to the hospital, compared to 11 (administered with Pfizer) and one (administered with AstraZeneca).
Week 38, 62 people (administered with Sinovac) were admitted to the hospital, compared to 12 (administered with Pfizer) and 12 (administered with AstraZeneca).
Week 39, 65 people (administered with Sinovac) were admitted to the hospital, compared to 10 (administered with Pfizer) and five (administered with AstraZeneca).
During Week 40, 81 people (administered with Sinovac) were admitted to the hospital, compared to 12 (administered with Pfizer) and five (administered with AstraZeneca).
Week 41, 125 people (administered with Sinovac) were admitted to the hospital, compared to 18 (administered with Pfizer) and seven (administered with AstraZeneca).
Week 42, 90 people (administered with Sinovac) were admitted to the hospital, compared to 22 (administered with Pfizer) and seven (administered with AstraZeneca).
Week 43, 155 people (administered with Sinovac) were admitted to the hospital, compared to 23 (administered with Pfizer) and six (administered with AstraZeneca).
Week 44, 120 people (administered with Sinovac) were admitted to the hospital, compared to 23 (administered with Pfizer) and seven (administered with AstraZeneca).
In Week 45, 165 people (administered with Sinovac) were admitted to the hospital, compared to 24 (administered with Pfizer) and seven (administered with AstraZeneca).