KUALA LUMPUR - The Health Ministry will announce its decision on walk-ins for Covid-19 booster shots after a meeting this evening.
Its minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this after 40 per cent of those eligible for the third dose failed to turn up for their appointment.
This has raised concerns on the possibility of increase in hospital admission if the number of people getting their booster dose remains low.
"This evening I will chair the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) and we will decide whether on those who want the booster dose," he said during a press a conference after the launch of Malaysia as a Hepatitis-C Treatment Destination here today.
Khairy said the walk-in option might be offered to those who had not been vaccinated as well.
He also said those in charge of the vaccination centres has been instructed not to turn away those who were qualified for boosters if they were few days short of their three and six months immunity threshold for Sinovac and Pfizer when their protection was slated to decrease.
"We have set aside enough doses for those who have not been vaccinated as well as those eligible for a booster dose.
"If we allow the walk-in option for the booster dose, we may allow those who have not been vaccinated to walk in as well to receive their first dose,” he said, assuring that the ministry had sufficient booster doses for all adults.
Nationwide administration of booster doses started on Oct 13, initially involving high-risk groups such as health care workers, the immunocompromised, people with comorbidities and the elderly.