A total of 3.5 million Sinovac recipients had yet to receive a booster shot – “a huge number”, he said, who were all vulnerable to the Omicron variant “because Sinovac’s effectiveness is not as good as Pfizer’s”.

However, many Sinovac recipients were hesitant about the Pfizer booster, he said. “This is why I have made the decision to allow Sinovac recipients to choose Sinovac as a booster. However, the health ministry still encourages them to get Pfizer or AstraZeneca as it provides better protection.”

Khairy used an analogy of someone going to a cold country and being offered a free coat by the government, but instead picks a T-shirt. “It’s up to you. At least they are wearing a T-shirt rather than nothing at all,” he added.

He added that Sinovac booster shots would be given based on a first come, first served basis due to limited stocks. However, all Sinovac recipients aged above 18, and all senior citizens above 60, must take booster shots before March 1. If not, they will lose their “fully vaccinated” status.

Previously, the ministry offered Sinovac booster shots only to people with allergies to other vaccines, but is now offering the inactivated vaccine to those who want it.

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