PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Covid-19 daily case figures could dip to below 1,000 by October if the vaccination rate is maintained at 150,000 second doses daily, says Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

       The Health director-general told a press conference on Thursday (July 15) that based on projections, the drop in cases can be achieved with an estimated vaccine efficacy rate of 75% and with 80% of the population fully vaccinated.

       However, Dr Noor Hisham noted that any decrease in vaccination rate would cause a delay in the reduction of daily cases.

       “In our projections, if we administer 100,000 second doses daily with an average 75% vaccine efficacy rate, the number of cases would drop (below 1,000) by mid- or late November.

       “So this depends on vaccination, which is why it is very important for us to see how we can increase the rate in the community,” he said.

       Dr Noor Hisham explained that the 75% efficacy rate of vaccine was used in the Health Ministry's projections after taking into account the various levels of efficacy of the five different vaccines under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme portfolio.

       He cited Labuan as an example where cases were reduced significantly due to public health measures and a rapid vaccination rate.

       He said in June, Labuan reported up to 1,340 new cases a week but now saw just 26 cases reported on Thursday.

       “Right now in Labuan, 50% of the population has had their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine, while 87% received their first dose.

       “When we reach the 52% mark of the population being vaccinated, we can see the cases, like what happened in Labuan, reduced in just over two weeks.

       Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry will now look to implement this approach in the Klang Valley to control the rising infection rate.