Health ministry considering Sinovac, AstraZeneca for booster jabs

The health ministry is considering using the Sinovac and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines as booster shots, says its minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said the matter will be discussed by the Drug Control Authority (DCA) in a meeting chaired by health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

“Included in the agenda of this meeting is to consider the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines as booster doses. When the DCA makes its decision, I will announce our policy,” he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2022 at the policy level in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said this in response to Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (PH-Bandar Kuching) who wanted to know whether the government plans to allow the Sinovac vaccine to be given as a booster dose especially for those who had received the same type of vaccine.

To expedite the administration of booster doses in the country, Khairy said the health ministry would reopen several vaccination centres in addition to using the services of public and private health facilities.