Both the CDC and the FDA are working on how to best update Covid vaccines to target circulating variants annually, similar to flu vaccine campaigns.

Omicron-tailored shots made by Pfizer and Moderna Inc have already been greenlit by several countries, including in the US for adults and, more recently, for children as young as 5 years.

Around 18% said they would wait and see whether they would get the new booster shot, while 10% said they would only get it if it was required.

Given the current surge and people's waning immunity, experts say the best booster for those at risk is the one at hand.

The agencies had already recommended a second booster, or a fourth dose, for people over the age of 80, since April.

Cases have steadily risen over the past five weeks, with the the current seven-day average of daily cases rising 26% from the previous week.

Pfizer, which makes its shot with Germany's BioNTech SE, and Moderna still see a major role for themselves in the vaccine market even as overall demand declines.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin says the Pfizer jab is the recommended vaccine for a second booster shot.

Those outside the two priority categories will have to pay for the shots at privately run facilities, with no mixing and matching of vaccines allowed.

The nation of 1.3 billion has administered 1.85 billion shots so far, giving 96% of the population a single dose and 83% two jabs.

The study also found that people with Omicron are significantly less likely to lose their sense of smell, and confirmed previous research that it is less severe.

He says premise owners need to ensure that customers have completed at least their primer vaccination shots.