The new variants were detected through several precautionary measures on the threat of the Delta variant (B1617.2) including genome sequencing following the World Health Organization (WHO) statement that certain countries were threatened by the new variant.

“We found that there are threats of new variants in our country,” he said in a joint media briefing with coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin on the progress of the national immunisation programme.

From the 584 cases recorded, 40 cases were of the Delta variant said to be aggressive, 136 of the Beta variant (B.1.351), 10 cases of the Alpha variant (B117); two cases involving B1525 variant, and four cases of B161.7.14. The rest (392 cases) comprised variants of concern.

Adham said the health ministry will carry out various preventive and control measures based on high incident rates in areas where cases spread quickly and result in deaths.

“We will create a genome sequence and from there we will know whether an individual was infected by a new variant,” he said.

On the Covid-19 vaccine fund, Adham said the fund had yet to be utilised.

According to him, a total of 18.6 responses on post-immunisation side effects were submitted to the MySejahtera application for every 1,000 doses of vaccine dispensed since the beginning of the national Covid-19 immunisation programme.

“Pain at the injection site, headache and fatigue are among the side effects that vaccine recipients often experienced,” he said.