KUCHING: Endot Airuddin is grateful that she was fully vaccinated against Covid-19 after she was tested positive for the virus.

       “I was down only with mild symptoms,” she said, and after going through the experience, she advised those who have not registered for the vaccination to do so.

       Endot said her condition could have been serious had she not been given the vaccination.

       “It saved me and other family members who tested positive for the virus.

       “Our condition was not serious,” she said in an interview.

       Endot, 74, who tested positive on Sept 14, said three other members of her family were also infected after being in close contact with her grandson who was a Covid-19 patient.

       “All of us had completed our vaccination and had only mild symptoms,” she said, adding that she could not understand why some people refused to be vaccinated.

       “I hope my experience would make them realise that it could save their lives.

       “I hope they can learn from what happened to me and my family. If you are afraid of losing your family members, take the vaccine,” she said, adding that she received both doses of the vaccine in June.

       Sarawak will start giving Covid-19 vaccine booster doses next month in an effort to further protect high-risk groups, making it the first state to start such an initiative.

       The booster dose will focus on those aged 60 and above, as well as those with serious comorbidities.

       Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Prof Dr Asri Said said the booster dose was very important for those aged 60 and above, especially to reduce the number of critical cases.

       He said it could be seen from the experience of other countries, where despite having a high vaccination rate, there was an increase in new cases.

       “There is emerging evidence that the waning of immunity from vaccination may be one of the causes of this surge in cases.

       “Israel is one example where the vaccination rate was very high and at one point there were very few Covid-19 cases.

       “But for the past few months, cases in Israel have been increasing. Data published recently in the New England Medical Journal also support giving booster vaccinations for those ages 60 and above.

       “There is a reduction in the rate of confirmed Covid-19 cases and the rate of severe illness (following the booster shots).” — Bernama