KUALA LUMPUR: There will be limited vaccination centres (PPVs) offering Sinovac vaccines for Covid-19 booster doses.
ProtectHealth said the majority of the PPVs in the country are offering Pfizer vaccines as booster doses.
"The PPVs offering Sinovac vaccines will be increased in stages.
"We would also emphasise that the Technical Working Group under Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force Booster (CITF-B) still recommends Pfizer and AstraZeneca as the booster dose.
"ProtectHealth through private medical practitioners will continue to assist and work together with the Health Ministry to ensure the success of the booster dose implementation," it said in a statement.
On Nov 25, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that CITF has opened registrations for the Covid-19 booster shot for all adults aged 18 and above who have been inoculated with primary vaccines, either AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Sinovac.
He said CITF-B also recommended a mix and match for the booster shot, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac.
Khairy said the Comirnaty Pfizer booster shot is appropriate for all vaccine types, especially for those below the age of 50.
It is understood that those who are older and receive the AstraZeneca as the primary shots are recommended to get an AstraZeneca booster six months after their second dose, to boost the efficacy rates.
For Sinovac recipients, once they have completed the two doses and finished the three months, it is suggested that they get a Pfizer as the booster.
Whereas for those above 50 we recommend for them to take the AstraZeneca booster
Khairy said a third Sinovac shot may be administered if the recipient insists on the same brand or is in fear of contra complications.
Registration for booster shots are open on the MySejahtera application as well as via the Protect Health website at https://protecthealth.com.my