Giving the second jab a stab: Why a second booster dose matters

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin recently announced that individuals above 60 years old with high comorbidities (refers to the medical condition of two disorders or diseases coexisting at once) who are more susceptible to severe Covid-19 infection can obtain a second dose of the Covid-19 booster after four to six months.

The administration of a second Covid-19 booster dose to individuals above 60 years old who are at high risk includes individuals who have diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic renal disease or underlying dialysis, chronic liver disease, cerebrovascular disease, heart failure, ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy, individuals who are chronic neurological patients, individuals with Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40 and individuals who are staying long-term in home care centres.

Furthermore, healthy individuals above 60 years old without any high comorbidities can opt for the second booster dose based on the advice or recommendation of a medical professional.

The Technical Working Group (TWG) has looked into scientific studies as well as conducted localised research on individuals above 60 years old with varying diseases who have a high risk of developing severe symptoms or potentially dying due to Covid-19.

Based on the adequate outcome and results from the research, the TWG decided on rolling out the administration of the second booster vaccine.

Besides that, adult Malaysians who plan to travel overseas are allowed to obtain their second booster dose at least one month after the first booster dose.

This option is given if the vaccination is a requirement of the destination country regardless of the risk profile of the individual.

The Pfizer-BioNTech (mRNA Cominarty) Covid-19 vaccine is currently offered to individuals who qualify for the second booster dose.

For some individuals above 60 years old who have completed their primary vaccination and booster dose but contracted the Covid-19, they are given an option to apply for the second booster dose 3 months after recovering from the disease.

The second booster dose is not compulsory and the vaccination status on MySejahtera will not be affected if they did not opt for it.

A recent study conducted by administering the fourth dose (booster) of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine to persons 60 years of age or older.

The outcome showed that rates of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe Covid-19 were lower after a fourth dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine than after only three doses.

The protection against confirmed infection seemed to be very brief whereas the protection against severe illness did not diminish during the whole study period.

The Health Minister reaffirmed the need for the booster vaccines.

He said that although there is a reduction in the influx of Covid-19 related death compared to the Deltavariant global wave, we should continue to focus on protecting high risk groups.

He also reminded the public to get booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Any further inquiries about medicines can be made to the National Pharmacy Call Centre at 1-800-88-6722 every Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 5.00 pm (except public holidays).

Prasyaanth Nadarajan is a pharmacist at UF48 Pahang State Pharmaceutical Services Divisions.