THE Malaysian Indian Voice (MIV) urged the Government to explain the contradiction in messaging when it came to booster shots, especially those who got the Sinovac vaccine for their first two doses.
“I’m a recipient of the Sinovac vaccine. While the Prime Minister himself had said that the booster shot is not compulsory, the Health Minister (on the other hand) had said we will lose our fully vaccinated status if we don’t take it.
“Why is this contradiction (happening)? In fact, many Sinovac recipients are having trouble travelling to certain European countries as they don’t recognise that vaccine,” its president V Pappa Raidu queried in a statement.
In December last year, Deputy Health Minister II Aaron Ago Dagang said that the Government did not intend in making booster shots compulsory.
“Although the percentage in uptake of booster dose is relatively slow, which is only 10.83% so far, we cannot make the booster shots mandatory.
“But with the emergence of the Omicron variant which is of concern, we recommend that the booster dose be taken,” The New Straits Times reported him as saying.
However, when the Omicron wave hit Malaysian shores, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin stepped in and urged Malaysian to get their booster shots by March 31 or risk losing their fully vaccinated status.
The Rembau MP particularly mentioned those who received Sinovac doses for their first two shots, adding there are some two million of them are about to lose their fully vaccinated status by April 1.
He also addressed concerns over several European Union (EU) countries in not recognising the Sinovac vaccine.
“Travellers vaccinated with Sinovac are allowed to enter Australia, the UK and the US. So, we will seek further information on this decision with the EU delegation to Malaysia,” Khairy was reported as saying.
Touching on the matter, Pappa Raidu urged the Government not to force the public to get their booster shots as it would cause undue stress on the already struggling masses.
“Threatening to revoke the people’s fully vaccinated status for not taking the boosters in unacceptable,” he remarked. – March 28, 2022
