MOH: Infographic recommending fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose is fake

It has been reported that an infographic recommending a forth COVID-19 vaccine dose has been circulating online. The Ministry of Health has denied issuing such advisory and has confirmed that the infographic is fake.

The circulated infographic uses a familiar template and claims that “PICK4” will start on 15th March 2022. It also urged everyone to get a fourth vaccine dose ahead of Malaysia’s reopening of international borders that’s happening on 1st April. The advisory is fake as the government has not yet announced plans for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose, other than a single booster shot for adults who are fully vaccinated with a single or two-dose vaccine.

The Ministry of Health has also reminded all fully vaccinated adult Sinovac recipients (18 years old and above) as well as senior citizens (aged 60 years old and above regardless of vaccine type) to get their booster shot by 31st March 2022 in order to retain their “fully vaccinated” status. If they don’t get their boosters, the MySejahtera status will change on 1st April 2022. Although restrictions are reduced during the transition to endemic phase on 1st April, a fully vaccinated status is still required for most activities and premises including dine-in for restaurants.

At the moment, boosters are only offered to adults aged 18 years old and above. If you haven’t gotten vaccinated or boosted, the COVID-19 vaccines are offered via mega PPV as well as healthcare facilities under ProtectHealth.

As of 11th March 2022, Malaysia has fully vaccinated 97.5% of total adults (18 years old and above) and 64.8% have received their boosters. Over 91% of total teens aged 12 to 17 years old have been fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the PICKids program for children aged 5-11 years old is still not hitting its expected target. Since it began on 3rd February, only 31.5% of eligible children have received their first dose. Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin revealed recently that a total of 1.6 million vaccine appointments have been pushed for children aged 5-11 but over 600,000 of them didn’t turn up for the vaccine jab.

There has been a rise of severe COVID-19 infections among children below 12 years old especially for category 4 and 5 cases. Khairy has urged parents to get their young children vaccinated as soon as possible ahead of the transition to endemic phase and before school reopens. Besides Pfizer, the National Immunisation Programme is also offering Sinovac vaccines to children under 12 years old at selected vaccination centres.

Walk-in vaccination for children is currently also available at all Mega PPVs. Do note that the Mega PPVs will be shutting down on the 16th March 2022.

[ SOURCE ]

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