PETALING JAYA: Individuals belonging to three categories will be eligible for an additional dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

       This includes a second booster for senior citizens, aged 60 and above with high-risk comorbidities, and adults aged 18 and above, who are travelling overseas and are required to get their second booster as part of the requirement of the destination country.

       As for moderately and severely immunocompromised adolescents aged above 12 who have completed their primer doses, an additional shot will be administered.

       The Health Minister said senior citizens with high-risk comorbidities include patients with chronic respiratory disease, chronic heart disease and vascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease, diabetes and other endocrine disorders, Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen, severe mental illness, as well as those with a body mass index of 40 and above.

       He said the Pfizer vaccine would be administered for those under this group.

       Khairy also said those under this category who have received their first booster dose at least four to six months earlier would be eligible for the second booster.

       Senior citizens who have been infected with Covid-19 after the first booster would be administered the jab three months after their recovery, he said.

       Individuals under this category will be given appointments via MySejahtera. They can also walk in to vaccination centres (PPV) without appointments.

       Alternatively, they can receive the jab at private and government hospitals which serve as PPV.

       The shots will also be administered to residents at care homes for the aged via an outreach programme.

       Khairy said senior citizens, aged 60 and above, who are healthy, would have to consult health practitioners if they are considering a second booster shot.

       Immunocompromised adolescents, aged between 12 and 17, who are eligible for an additional dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, will require a doctor’s certification to attest their medical condition.

       “Individuals can receive the additional dose at least 28 days after the last primer dose,” Khairy said.

       Those who have completed both their primer doses and have been infected with Covid-19 are eligible to receive an additional dose three months after recovery.

       Khairy said teenagers who are receiving treatment at government or private hospitals, child specialist centres, health clinics with specialists that have doubled as a PPV can receive their shots at their respective health facilities.

       As for healthcare facilities that do not operate as a PPV, a Pre-Vaccination Assessment (PVA) will be conducted by the attending specialist who will then refer the individual involved to a government or private hospital, private child specialist centre or a health clinic which operates as a PPV, for his vaccination.

       “Teenagers who are eligible but are not offered the additional dose can refer to a specialist who will conduct the PVA and later, refer them to a government or private hospital, private child specialist centre or a health clinic which operates as a PPV,” he said.

       Travellers aged 18 and above must also be eligible for a second booster if that is the requirement of the destination country.

       The second booster dose must be administered at least a month after the first shot.

       They can walk in to a PPV with the necessary documents such as their flight tickets and other travelling documents.