Preparations are being made to immunise senior citizens as well as those high at risk.

Stable for senior citizens

According to a report by New Straits Times, the senior citizens aged 60 and over in the country are set to receive China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told the daily that this decision was made by the Special Committee for Ensuring Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) after taking into consideration the latest data and the progress of its use in other countries.

Khairy said research reveals that the Sinovac vaccine is more suitable for the elderly.

"The vaccine is found to be safe, effective and stable for senior citizens. For example, countries that had inoculated its population aged above 60 are Turkey (11 million), Brazil (seven million) and Chile (three million).

"JKJAV has reviewed the data and based on the trials in Brazil in which its paper is currently under review, (it showed that) the secondary efficacy against moderate and severe cases of COVID-19 for Sinovac were 83.7 per cent for moderate cases and 100 per cent for severe cases," he was quoted as saying.

Khairy added that the Sinovac vaccine is effective in preventing severe cases of COVID-19, something the government wants to avoid in Phase 2 as over 80 per cent mortality from COVID-19 are reportedly those aged 60 and above.

"So you can give them 100 per cent protection against severe cases of COVID-19 which the Sinovac vaccine does afford and provide. This is something we need to continue and use to protect senior citizens.

"This would be an important part of Phase 2 since the Sinovac vaccine has been cleared to be used for senior citizens," Khairy further added.

Lukewarm response

Khairy added to date, over 31,776 appointments have been sent out via the MySejahtera application as well as Short Messaging System (SMS) for the Phase 2 vaccination.

He added that there were more people who have not responded to the appointments to confirm if they can attend as opposed to those who have confirmed.

Meanwhile, those who have replied saying they will not attend, will be issued with a second appointment and if they refuse the second appointment as well, they will be investigated, said Khairy.