In a written parliamentary reply, Khairy said high-risk groups such as the elderly, those who were immunocompromised, people with comorbidities, healthcare workers and workers at care homes will receive a third dose.

The total recipients involve 600,000 frontline workers, 150,000 immunocompromised patients, three million elderly and workers at long-term care facilities as well as five million individuals with comorbidities.

“A guideline on the additional dose is being developed by the health ministry,” he said in his reply to Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah).

Khairy said the Drug Control Authority had given conditional approval on the use of Pfizer-BioNTech’s Cormirnaty vaccine as a third dose at a meeting on Oct 8.

Previously, he had said the introduction of additional doses will not affect people’s vaccination status even if they do not receive one.

He reiterated that boosters and third doses will be offered on a voluntary basis for those who need them, such as those with comorbidities or chronic illnesses.

Those who do not have access to an additional dose or choose not to receive it will remain categorised as fully vaccinated, he said.

In a separate reply to Wong Kah Woh (PH-Ipoh Timur), Khairy said his ministry and the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry are in the final stages of setting a ceiling price for Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines sold in the private market.

The matter will be brought to the Cabinet once finalised, he said.

Discussions are also ongoing between the two ministries to further reduce the price of Covid-19 self-test kits, with the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry in the midst of getting feedback from stakeholders.