PETALING JAYA: The government has decided to offer Covid-19 vaccine booster shots to frontliners and the elderly to boost their protection, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       The administration of the booster shots for high-risk groups such as frontliners, the immunocompromised and the elderly with comorbidities will begin once the Covid-19 mass immunisation coverage has covered 80% of the adult population nationwide, he said.

       "This third dose can increase the level of immunity in individuals who are at high-risk of getting infected with Covid-19 infection, as immunity may decrease after a certain period following the second dose," added Ismail Sabri in a statement on Sunday (Sept 19).

       Ismail Sabri added that a panel of healthcare and medical experts are now developing guidelines on the implementation of the booster shot programme and that more details on its administration will be announced by the Health Minister.

       More to come