March 31, 2022
PUTRAJAYA – Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccine recipients and those above 60 who have not had the booster jab will still be able to dine-in at eateries and enter shopping malls although they will lose their fully vaccinated status starting tomorrow.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said although the government has made the decision, these people concerned should still take the booster dose for vital protection against Covid-19.
“From April 1, those who have received Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines aged 18 and above as well as those aged 60 and above will not be considered as fully vaccinated if they have not received their booster shots.
“They will still be allowed to dine-in at eateries, enter buildings or visit places of worship if they have fully completed their primer doses,” he said.
Khairy explained that primer doses meant that they have received at least two shots of vaccines like Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac, which have a two-dose regimen, and must pass 14 days after their second jab.
“For those who have received single-dose vaccines like CanSino are also considered to have completed their primer dose 14 days after receiving their jab,” he added.
Premises owners, he said, must check and ensure that only customers or visitors who have completed their primer doses are allowed entry.
Khairy said data has shown that in three to five months after receiving two doses of Pfizer, the protection level towards Covid-19 goes down by 20%. For recipients of two Sinovac doses, the protection goes down by 48%.
“Booster shots will increase one’s antibody levels and help reduce the risk of severe Covid-19 infection.
On another matter, Khairy said citizens of Malaysia and Singapore would be exempted from travel insurance when travelling into the two countries.
The travel insurance, he said, was meant to cover costs for quarantine, treatment and hospital admission if the traveller was to be infected with Covid-19 while in Malaysia.
“However, taking into consideration the Singapore government’s latest stance, and on the basis of reciprocity, the requirement for travel insurance was exempted for those who are citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders of Malaysia and Singapore,” he added.
Malaysia’s travel protocol required travellers arriving in Malaysia to buy Covid-19 travel insurance with a minimum coverage of US$20,000.