Immunocompromised children advised to get third vaccine shot

The technical working committee for Covid-19 vaccines has recommended that booster jabs for individuals aged 12 to 17 with moderate to severe immunocompromised conditions be re-categorised as a third dose.

A young boy holds a lollipop in one hand as a nurse administers a dose of Covid-19 vaccine for children while his mother and brother watch, at the Dewan Komuniti Taman Bukit Mewah vaccination centre in Kajang.

Moderately to severely immunocompromised children aged five to 17 are recommended to receive a third dose of Covid-19 vaccine to complete the three-dose primary vaccination series, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin says.

In a statement on the recommendation by the technical working committee (TWG) for Covid-19 vaccines, Khairy said the procedure or mechanism for the implementation of the third dose as well as the first booster dose for adolescents would be finalised and announced soon.

He said the recommendation was made based on the current situation on the level of effectiveness of the vaccine among high-risk adolescents.

Khairy said the TWG recommended that booster doses for individuals with moderate to severe immunocompromised conditions aged between 12 and 17 be re-categorised as a third dose and complement the primary vaccination.

“Only after completing the three-dose primary series can the first booster dose be given to people aged between 12 and 17 with moderate to severe immunocompromised conditions.

“This measure aims to provide optimal protection to this group of teenagers from the risk of getting Covid-19 infection with severe symptoms,” he said.

On April 14, the health ministry announced the administration of booster shots to moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and above.

As of June 28, the vaccination rate of the primary dose of Covid-19 vaccines for adolescents was 93.5%.

Studies from abroad have shown that the level of effectiveness of vaccines on hospital admissions among adolescents after five to 10 months of receiving a second dose decreased by 42% to 73%.

Khairy said additional doses either to complete the three-dose primary vaccination series or as first and second booster doses would be given to individuals diagnosed with moderate to severe immunocompromised conditions by government or private physicians.

He said additional doses for individuals aged between five and 11 would be given at least eight weeks after their second dose.

For individuals between the ages of 12 and 17, he said they would receive an additional dose at least 28 days after receiving the second dose.

He said the second booster dose would be given to individuals between the ages of 18 and 59, including frontline health workers such as medical officers and nurses who are at high risk of getting serious or severe Covid-19 infection.

“These people will receive a second booster dose at least six months after the first booster dose and after discussions with any registered medical practitioner,” he said.

For the CanSino heterologous booster, he said recipients (18 years and above) must have received the second dose of their primary vaccine at least three months ago.