GEORGE TOWN: Healthcare workers at the Penang Hospital are now battling two fronts – saving lives and fighting to stave off fatigue.

       It has been more than 18 months since they started their fight against this pandemic and the long battle has taken a toll on their bodies, physically and mentally.

       “All of us are really very tired. We are getting more medical officers and keep rotating them, so that we don’t get too stressed.

       “Staff nurses, too, have to take turns in this battle.

       “Some of them have worked since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Infectious Disease specialist Dr Chow Ting Soo.

       Dr Chow, who is also leading a team on Covid-19 research under the World Health Organisation initiative, said the hospital has a psychology team to regularly assess anxiety and depression levels of all staff members involved in fighting the pandemic.

       “It is important that we take care of the mental health status of all our staffers.

       “Our Occupational Health team also does regular check-ups on the doctors and nurses,” she said.

       On the need for more beds, Dr Chow said the hospital was expanding its high-risk wards to cater to more Covid-19 patients.

       When asked if there is a need for a third dose of vaccination, Dr Chow anticipated that a booster might be needed later on but for now, Malaysia is not advocating it.

       “I believe we will need to wait for clearer studies before such a move can be made,” she said.

       The suggestion of a booster jab came up following the warning issued by WHO that Covid-19 would likely become endemic.

       Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin also said that the country was now studying whether a third jab was necessary.