Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this includes moderately or severely immunocompromised children and adolescents aged five to 17.

This follows a recommendation by the Technical Working Committee (TWG) under the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force-Booster (CITF-B).

Khairy said the third primer dose for moderately and severely immunocompromised 12 to 17-year-olds would not be considered a booster.

He added that those in this group could only receive a booster dose after they had received all three primer doses.

To be eligible for a third primer dose, immunocompromised youths aged five to 17 must have their conditions certified by a government or private doctor.

Those aged five to 11 can only receive their third primer dose after eight weeks of receiving the second dose, whereas 12 to 17-year-olds could do so after 28 days.

Meanwhile, Khairy said a second booster dose would be administered to high-risk people aged 18 to 59 and healthcare workers.

“A second booster dose can be taken at least six months after receiving the first and upon consultation with registered medical practitioners,” he said in a statement.