40% of booster dose recipients a no-show, says Khairy

Around 40% of those given appointments for Covid-19 booster shots under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme are not showing up for their jabs, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

He added that the number of hospitalisations will increase if booster shot take-up remains low.

“If booster take-up is low, especially among the elderly and those with comorbidities, hospitalisation numbers will go up. This is for sure,” he said in a Twitter post.

He also urged those who have received appointment dates to go for the jab, saying it will strengthen their immunity and protection against Covid-19.

The government began administering booster shots for fully vaccinated people on Oct 13, to ensure that the immunity received after completing their doses can be maintained for an optimal period, especially against infection caused by the Delta variant.