He also said the health ministry had recommended second booster shots for those aged 60 and above, as well as to high-risk individuals aged 18 to 59.

Yesterday, the ministry said the number of new Covid-19 cases had increased from 21,355 to 26,355, or 23.4%, last week from the week before.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in his update for the week ending July 16 that the number of Covid-19 patients admitted to public hospitals and quarantine centres had also increased.

The number of admissions rose by 33% per 100,000 people compared to the preceding week, while overall bed occupancy for non-critical cases increased by 2% and utilisation of intensive care unit beds rose by 3%.

Meanwhile, Khairy also said the health ministry is looking into the usage of next-generation vaccines when they are approved by the regulators

“If the vaccines are safe, the health ministry can consider procuring them in the near future,” he said in response to Rubiah Wang (GPS-Kota Samarahan), who asked him in the Dewan Rakyat on how the national immunisation programme will prepare itself to face new Covid-19 variants.