The duo did not experience any symptoms when they were infected by the virus after they had been vaccinated.
Nur Fazlizai Ali, 34, a media practitioner, was infected by the virus about three weeks after having taken both doses of the Sinovac shots.
“I received the first dose of the vaccine on April 1 and the second on April 22. It was a bit of a shock at first when I was confirmed positive on May 12. I was informed that my infection was through contacts that I had met while on duty.
“I asked the doctor several times just to reconfirm the results. The answer remained the same and I had to be placed at the Covid-19 Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC),” she said when contacted by Bernama here recently.
She said it was a really difficult experience for her as she boarded a van from the health ministry to be taken to the PKRC at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Chendering branch on the eve of Hari Raya.
“I was really sad and scared. I couldn’t describe my feelings at that time, but I still prayed that the vaccine I had received would help me fight the virus as soon as possible.
“What I was worried about most then was the infection involving other people. Out of 30 close contacts, two of them were infected. Thankfully, they didn’t have severe symptoms,” she said.
When asked if she had any doubts or regrets as she was still infected despite being vaccinated, she said: “Of course not. Compared with other patients who have not received the vaccine, I am actually a very lucky person.”
She said that at the PKRC, many patients suffered from severe cough, fever and loss of sense of smell. But as she was asymptomatic, she could do various activities, including writing news.
Sharing similar sentiments with Nur Fazlizai on the importance of the vaccine was Zaid Salim, 50, who tested positive a few days after receiving the first vaccine shot. He also said that he did not experience any symptoms.
Zaid, who is a stringer with a newspaper company, received the vaccine on May 11. He tested positive for Covid-19 three days later and was admitted to the PKRC at UiTM Chendering branch.
“I was told that I was infected while doing news coverage, just like Nur Fazlizai, and did not know that some of those whom I had come in contact were positive.
“However, the vaccine helped me as I did not face any health problems. Also, out of the 40 close contacts, no one tested positive, including my family members,” said Zaid, who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
He said that as he had tested positive, the second dose, which was supposed to be administered on June 14, had to be postponed. He will only get the shot six months after the date he had tested positive.
Nur Fazlizai and Zaid also said that individuals selected to receive the vaccine should not miss the opportunity to get vaccinated, as it not only protects themselves but also others.