Conditional approval granted for AstraZeneca, Sinovac jabs as boosters

The Drug Control Authority (DCA) has granted conditional approval for the use of the Sinovac and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines as booster shots for those who initially received the same type of jab, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham said today.

In a statement, he said this would apply to individuals aged 18 and above.

“The AstraZeneca booster dose will be given after an interval of six months from the receipt of the second dose, while the CoronaVac vaccine will be given as booster shots three to six months from the date of the second dose,” he said.

He added that the administration of booster shots comprising these two vaccines to specific target groups will be detailed by the Covid-19 Booster Immunisation Task Force, with notifications issued from time to time.

“Approval of this conditional registration requires information on the quality, safety and effectiveness of the vaccine product to be monitored and evaluated based on the latest data,” he said.

“This is to ensure that the comparison of benefits over risks for the vaccine remains positive.”

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.

The Pfizer vaccine was the first to be granted approval for use as a booster, on adults aged 18 and above at least six months after receipt of their second dose.