Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz, president of the Malaysian Medical Association, said most people infected by the virus only exhibit mild symptoms and are able to recover with good rest and medication.
“(Therefore), there is no need to make boosters compulsory,” she told FMT.
However, she said those in the high-risk group should take the boosters as recommended, as they may be at risk of developing severe Covid-19 symptoms which could result in hospitalisation and even death.
Azizan also advised high-risk individuals to mask up when in crowded places or public spaces with poor air ventilation.
She likewise urged them to maintain good personal hygiene and self-test, as taking boosters alone may not be enough to ward off the virus.
In general, she said, members of the public should maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“(A) balanced diet, quality rest daily, regular exercise, and sun exposure to strengthen the immune system, reduce risk (of contracting) Covid-19,” she added.
Universiti Malaya’s Dr Tharani Loganathan and Azrul Khalib of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy agreed that vaccinations should remain voluntary and optional.
Azrul said there was no need to reintroduce harsh quarantine restrictions like those employed in the past.
“We will treat this as an endemic disease and live with it, the same way we do for influenza and other respiratory diseases.
“However, it is essential that we make available the best possible options for vaccinations,” he said.
Tharani said Putrajaya should acquire the latest Covid-19 vaccines and that the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) should allow these jabs to enter the market and be made available in the private sector.
She said the updated version of the Covid-19 vaccine available, which is based on the XBB.1.5. Omicron subvariant, was especially effective against recent strains of the virus.
“The previous vaccines or boosters were not developed to target these recent strains. As such, everyone above the age of five should receive one shot of the updated vaccine. Immunocompromised persons or children under five may need more than one shot,” said Tharani.
Azrul said the latest vaccines were not yet available in Malaysia and urged the government to register the jabs with the NPRA as soon as possible and make them available to the private market.
Last week, health minister Dzulkelfy Ahmad said his ministry might issue new directives for Covid-19 booster jabs, especially for those who might be vulnerable to complications from the virus.
Dzulkefly said the take-up rate for the second Covid-19 vaccine booster stood at 54% while the rate for the third was “quite low”.