Second Dose of Booster is Able to Reduce Rate of Infection from New Covid-19 Variants.

Taking a second booster shot is able to reduce the rate of severe infections, especially as the country has detected the presence of the Variants of Concern (VOC), Omicron BA.4 and BA.5.

Clinical Microbiologist from the Islamic Science University of Malaysia, Associate Prof Dr Nurul Azmawati Mohamed, said that although the COVID-19 vaccine was less effective against this sub-variant, the vaccine was still able to reduce the rate of severe infection and mortality.

“Therefore, high-risk groups such as those with chronic diseases and front-line workers need to get a second booster dose of the vaccine.

“Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 are now reported to have spread through more than 110 countries in Asia, such as Thailand, The Philippines, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore”, she said in a statement on social media today.

The two Omicron sub-variants were added to the watch list by the World Health Organization last March and designated as VOC by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

by Rosli Mansor