KUALA LUMPUR: The low take-up rate for the second Covid-19 vaccine booster shot is largely caused by hesitancy and doubt among Malaysians.

A woman in her 30s, who declined to be named, said she had no plans to get the second Covid-19 booster shot.

She said she received the primary Pfizer doses in 2021 and the first booster shot in June last year.

"Cases here have been low for sometime and most people already got three doses of vaccine. For now, I do not see the need to get another shot."

Another person who wanted to be known only as Katie, 41, a psychologist in Mont Kiara, said her immune system was weakened after she received her first booster shot in January last year.

She said she got the booster shot because she was taking care of her elderly parents.

She said she might not get a second booster shot as she did not believe it was necessary.

"I am not anti-vaccine. I have received shots since I was young, as well as the Covid-19 jabs.

"I fell sick after the first dose and frequently fall ill now compared with before I got the booster."

Some people are taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding whether to get the second booster shot.

Muhamad Firdaus said he felt that three doses of Covid-19 vaccine was enough to protect him from infection.

He said he has not caught Covid-19.

"I prefer to wait. I do not want to make any hasty decisions.

"In the meantime, I will continue to wear face masks and observe the standard operating procedures."

A freelance photographer in his early 20s said he would wait and see before deciding on the second booster shot.

He said if the government made the second booster shot compulsory, he would get it.

"My job requires me to travel often, so if the government says I must get it, then I will be left with no choice."

In Malaysia, a total of 27,532,071 people, or 84.3 per cent of the population, have completed primary Covid-19 vaccination and 16,279,553 people, or 49.8 per cent, have received their first booster dose.

Uptake of the second booster dose remains low at 1.9 per cent of the population, or 633,319 people.

Malaysia reported 513 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, with active cases at 12,002.

Following the surge in Covid-19 cases in China and the republic reopening its borders, the Health Ministry decided to step up measures to face a possible spike in infections in Malaysia.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa announced that from Jan 9, the elderly, people with comorbidities and people at risk of Covid-19 complications can walk into vaccination centres to get Covid-19 vaccines.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/01/866196/malaysians-fence-about-second-covid-19-booster-shot