Booster shots and mixed vaccines to be discussed next week, says KJ

Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun blew his top when he was asked to extend the sitting today so that Khairy Jamaluddin could answer more questions in the Dewan Rakyat. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

The need for a third booster shot for those already vaccinated and the possibility of mixing vaccines to enhance immunity will be discussed by the Covid-19 vaccine supply access guarantee special committee (JKJAV) next week when it is briefed by its technical working group, Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

“We will receive recommendations from the panel of experts based on real-world data and clinical data to see if heterologous vaccinations – the mixing of vaccines – are safe and whether those who are fully vaccinated can receive a third booster shot with a different vaccine,” he said.

The Rembau MP noted that this was already being implemented in other countries, such as South Korea and Germany due to interrupted vaccine supplies forcing them to mix doses.

Some countries claim that the mixing of vaccines can give them added immunity against different Covid-19 variants.

In response to Steven Sim’s (PH-Bukit Mertajam) question on why the 14 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine under Pharmaniaga were not used on some eight million people who remain unvaccinated, Khairy said this had to be “considered based on the government’s capabilities”.

“This is because our procurement has reached the ceiling level. The 14 million doses are stock for sale to the private market.

“If we wish to purchase more from Sinovac while waiting for Pfizer deliveries, it will add to the procurement bill.”

Well into Khairy’s speech, Hannah Yeoh (PH-Segambut) made an appeal to speaker Azhar Azizan Harun to extend today’s sitting, only to see the speaker lose his cool.

“Yesterday, the health minister did not wish to extend the time or answer questions, but today we have a minister who wants to answer all issues raised,” she said, adding that vaccines were currently an important matter for Malaysians.

However, Azhar retorted that he planned to end the session at 5.30pm, adding that he only had the power to extend it by a maximum of 15 minutes. He then told her to shut up.

His reply brought objections from the House, with Yeoh arguing that the government could put forward a proposal to extend the time for today’s session.

Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) then said all MPs would support the proposal as they were “trying to save lives, not save time”, at which time Azhar muted all MPs’ microphones.

“Can you please keep quiet?” the speaker told the Dewan Rakyat.

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Booster shots and mixed vaccines to be discussed next week, says KJ

The vaccination minister said a panel of experts will assess the safety of mixing vaccines based on real-world data and clinical data before making any recommendations.