PETALING JAYA: The Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) will study data on how long vaccines can provide protection against the coronavirus as it prepares to procure more supplies for next year, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

       The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister said the committee is gearing up to procure more vaccines as other developed countries are also mulling the need for a third booster shot especially with the emergence of the more resistant and transmissible Delta variant.

       “We are seeing developed countries making preparations to procure vaccines next year so we are also studying the data to see if we need to start negotiating to get our supply,” he said on Saturday (June 26).

       Khairy, who is also Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, said the committee wants to gain better understanding of how long the vaccine can provide protection against Covid-19 infections and identify if the protection might wane at any point.

       “We want to know when is the right time to provide the booster shot if protection does wane at all,” he said.

       He said the booster shot has become a cause of concern as several countries have put up defenses again with the emergence of the Delta variant.

       He said 90% of new infections in Britain are caused by the Delta variant and it also led Israel to reinstate the wearing of masks indoors.

       He said the committee is also studying the effectiveness of current vaccines against the Delta variant and whether a third booster shot is needed earlier.

       Separately, Khairy said the plan to mix vaccines has been put on the backburner for the moment because of the lack of clinical and real world data on its effectiveness.

       However, the technical group studying the method will continue their research as many countries are also still studying the data.

       For now, he said the programme will stick to the plan of giving people the same vaccine as their first dose.