KUCHING: Sarawak has administered 55,017 booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccine as of Oct 28, says the state Health Department.

       Deputy state health director Dr Rosemawati Ariffin said the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine was used in the booster programme for Pfizer and Sinovac vaccine recipients.

       "Individuals who have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine will receive the booster shot six months after their second dose, while Sinovac recipients will receive the booster shot three months after their second dose," she said in a statement on Friday (Oct 29).

       Dr Rosemawati said the booster programme was being carried out by private clinics and hospitals, public health clinics, public vaccination centres and mobile teams.

       She urged individuals who had received appointments through MySejahtera to go to their designated health facility to receive the booster dose.

       "Those who have not been notified by MySejahtera can contact the health facilities involved to get an appointment," she added.

       The booster programme began in Sarawak on Oct 13 with priority for immunocompromised individuals, senior citizens above 60 years and health frontliners.

       Last Thursday (Oct 21), Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Sinovac vaccine recipients would be given the Pfizer vaccine as a booster dose.

       Before that, the booster programme was only for those who had received the Pfizer vaccine.