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KJ + Noor Hisham just sued by COVID vaccine victims?!

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Were KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin), Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Pharmaniaga just sued by COVID-19 vaccine victims in Malaysia?!

Let’s take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : KJ + Noor Hisham Just Sued By COVID Vaccine Victims!

People are sharing an AgendaDaily article (in Malay) on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claiming that KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin) and Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah just sued by victims of the COVID-19 vaccine in Malaysia!

The viral post also claimed that the COVID-19 vaccine victims also sued the three COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers in Malaysia – Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Pharmaniaga.

KJ, Dr Noor Hisham sued over Covid-19 vaccine issue

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Three Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers were also sued, Pfizer, Astrazeneca and Pharmaniaga

15 O6 2O23
ABE YES NO

KOTA KINABALU: A group of vaccine recipients filed a lawsuit against the government and the Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM), especially the former minister in charge of the national vaccination program, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar after claiming to be a victim of the side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Citing a Sinar Harian report, a total of 44 victims represented by the law firm Shahrin Satheer Kamal & Co also filed a lawsuit against the former Director of Health, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and three manufacturers of the Covid-19 vaccine – Pfizer, Astrazeneca and Pharmaniaga.

Lawyer, Muhammad Shahrin Satheer said, the group claimed that the Ministry of Health gave an invalid declaration and it was an agreement forced by the defendant to prevent them from being taken action from the severe side effects of the vaccine injection.

He also informed that his client demanded that the defendant be held responsible for the effect of the Covid-19 vaccine injection on the plaintiff which had caused severe side effects resulting in losses.

“Our client is demanding general damages and special damages that the defendant must pay to the plaintiff as a result of the severe side effects of the Covid-19 injection which has caused death, permanent disability and other complications resulting in loss and loss of life suffered by the plaintiff- plaintiff,” he said.

He said, the lack of proof of the vaccine having been clinically tested before being used on consumers is also one of the basis of the lawsuit.

“The plaintiff is also demanding an interim injunction to prevent the defendant from widely providing the Covid-19 vaccine to other Malaysians until a clinical study is conducted and a complete report is prepared,” he said.
1⃣ı|ı🔥NO☆ACO🔥ı|ı ﷽

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Recommended : Did people in Sabah sue KKM for forced vaccination?!

 

Truth : KJ + Noor Hisham Sued By COVID Vaccine Victims In 2022!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS about the COVID-19 pandemic and the COVID-19 vaccines, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Agenda Daily Article Copied From Sinar Harian

I should start by pointing out that the Agenda Daily article is an almost exact copy of its source, a Sinar Harian article.

Fact #2 : Likely Source For False Claims About Sabah Lawsuit

I should also point out this piece of fake news is possibly the source for the earlier false claims that people in Sabah just filed a lawsuit against the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) for forced vaccination.

As mentioned in my fact check article, I can find no evidence of such a lawsuit by people in Sabah. This viral message is the only one that suggests that a COVID-19 vaccination lawsuit was filed in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Fact #3 : No Evidence Lawsuit Was Filed In Kota Kinabalu

The viral message mentioned Kota Kinabalu as the location, which appears to be completely false. The Agenda Daily article it listed as its source did not mention any location.

But the original article by Sinar Harian mentioned Shah Alam, Selangor, as its location. The law firm Shahrin Satheer Kamal & Co. is also based in Rawang, Selangor.

Therefore, the lawsuit was likely filed in Shah Alam, and not Kota Kinabalu as alleged by the viral message.

Fact #4 : Original News Was Published November 2022

The original news was originally published on 16 November 2022, and not on 15 June 2023 as suggested by the viral message.

Noor Hisham Abdullah retired on 21 April 2023, while Khairy Jamaluddin ceased being the Malaysia Minister of Health on 24 November 2022. Whoever created that viral message took care to change their status to match the new date.

Fact #5 : Lawsuit Was Allegedly Filed In November 2022

The Sinar Harian article mentioned that on 16 November 2022, 44 people represented by Shahrin Satheer Kamal & Co. filed a lawsuit against:

  • Malaysia Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin
  • Malaysia Director General of Health, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
  • COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers – Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Pharmaniaga

However, a day later – on 17 November 2022, Khairy Jamaluddin said at a press conference that he has yet to receive any lawsuit notice:

I have not received the notice of the summons. When I receive it, I will ask the lawyer I will appoint to answer it.

Since then, there has been no update on this lawsuit, so it is unknown if it was actually filed, or what has occurred since it was filed.

Fact #6 : Malaysia Has A COVID-19 Vaccine Injury Fund

Like most countries around the world, Malaysia has a COVID-19 vaccine injury fund. Established on 21 March 2021, it is called Bantuan Khas Kewangan Kesan Mudarat Vaksin COVID-19 (Special Financial Assistance for COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Effects), and pays out:

  • RM 50,000 for serious side effects that requires extended hospitalisation
  • RM 500,000 for permanent disability or death from the COVID-19 vaccine

If anyone is injured or dies as a result of the COVID-19 vaccines, the victim or the victim’s family can file for compensation with this fund. There is no need to file a lawsuit (and pay any legal fees) to get compensated.

Fact #7 : COVID-19 Vaccines Were Proven Safe + Effective

All COVID-19 vaccines underwent large clinical trials and were proven to be safe and effective, before receiving their Emergency Use Authorisation. Hence, it is wrong to claim that COVID-19 vaccines were never tested in a clinical trial.

In addition, approved COVID-19 vaccines continued to be monitored for safety and efficacy, and many eventually received their full FDA approval after many months of post-marketing monitoring.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!

 

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Pfizer Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Coming To Malaysia!

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Malaysia has ordered the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, which will arrive later this month!

 

Pfizer Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Coming To Malaysia!

On 31 October 2022, Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that the Ministry of Health (KKM) placed orders for the new Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.

There is no additional cost, as Malaysia is amending its existing order for the Pfizer vaccine, to the newer bivalent vaccine. The new Pfizer bivalent vaccine is expected to arrive in Malaysia later this month.

The original vaccine is effective against Omicron and the XBB (sub-variant). However, I would like to inform you that Malaysia has placed orders for the bivalent vaccine from Pfizer.

The bivalent vaccine targets both the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as the newer Omicron subvariants like BA.4 and BA.5.

However, people who are in the high-risk categories are advised to get their booster dose, instead of waiting for the Pfizer bivalent vaccine to arrive.

He also encouraged those travelling overseas for work or holidays, to get their booster dose.

Malaysia is recording a small wave of XBB subvariant infections, which had hit Singapore earlier.

Read more : Singapore Advice On Omicron XBB Variant?!

 

Pfizer Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine : A Quick Primer!

Pfizer and BioNTech tested both an Omicron-specific monovalent vaccine, as well as a bivalent mix like Moderna. They also tested them in both the standard 30 µg dose, and a higher 60 µg dose.

The Omicron-only booster dose offered the strongest immune response against the Omicron variant – 2X to 3X higher than the original COMIRNATY vaccine.

Their bivalent booster dose candidate, on the other hand, offered 1.5X to 2X higher antibody levels against the Omicro variant than the original COMIRNATY vaccine.

However, most health authorities prefer the bivalent version as it will boost protection against the original virus, as well as the Omicron variant at the same time.

Pfizer Vaccine Type GMR
(vs. Omicron)
60 µg Monovalent 3.15
30 µg Monovalent 2.23
60 µg Bivalent 1.97
30 µg Bivalent 1.56
30 µg Original Vaccine Baseline

One month after administration, both monovalent and bivalent Pfizer vaccine candidates offered significantly higher neutralising antibodies against the Omicron BA.1 variant.

Pfizer Vaccine Type GMT
(vs. Omicron)
60 µg Monovalent 19.6X
30 µg Monovalent 13.5X
60 µg Bivalent 10.9X
30 µg Bivalent 9.1X
Without Booster Baseline

Pfizer also said that both vaccine candidates demonstrated a favourable safety and tolerability profile, similar to the original Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

 

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Malaysia: Face Mask No Longer Mandatory On Planes!

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Passengers are no longer required to wear a face mask onboard planes flying to and from Malaysia! Here is what you need to know…

 

Malaysia : Face Mask No Longer Mandatory On Planes!

On 28 September 2022, the Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced that passengers are no longer required to wear a face mask on planes flying to and from Malaysia, except when they are compulsory in destination countries.

With immediate effect (28 September 2022), passengers onboard commercial flights are no longer required to wear a face mask.

This move follows the Ministry’s earlier move to relax face mask requirements in public indoor spaces on 7 September 2022.

Based on the current assessment of the Covid-19 situation and taking into account the latest requirements, the ministry has decided that face masks are no longer mandatory when on board aircraft.

– Khairy Jamaluddin, Malaysia Minister of Health

However, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) still strongly encourages the use of face masks for these groups of passengers :

  • individuals with symptoms like fever, cough and flu
  • high-risk individuals like senior citizens, those with chronic diseases, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women
  • those travelling with high-risk individuals like senior citizens and children

In addition, passengers may still be required by the destination country to wear a face mask. So bring along a face mask just in case, even if you prefer not to wear one during your flight.

The requirement to wear a face mask on an aeroplane is still subject to conditions set by the country being visited.

 

Face Mask No Longer Mandatory On Malaysia Airlines + AirAsia Planes!

Following the Malaysian government’s announcement, both Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia announced the next day that their passengers will no longer be required to wear a face mask, with immediate effect.

Malaysia Airlines

Effective immediately, passengers of Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings, and AMAL are no longer required to wear face masks onboard, except where compulsory in destination countries.

The relaxation of the face mask mandate follows the Ministry of Health Malaysia’s guideline on 28 September 2022 to remove the mask requirement onboard commercial aircraft.

The use of face masks is ​however strongly recommended for the following group of passengers:

  • Passengers with symptoms such as fever, cough and cold.
  •  High-risk passengers such as the elderly, people with chronic diseases.
  • Passengers with low immunity and pregnant mothers; and
  • Passengers who travel with high-risk people such as elderly and children.

All MAG airlines are committed to providing a safe and smooth end-to-end travel experience in accordance with its MHFlySafe commitment, allowing customers to fly confidently.

Airline protective measures include:

  • The cabin air circulation system, where cabin air is refreshed 20-30 times an hour
  • The use of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter that can filter 99.9% of airborne contaminants, including viruses and bacteria.
  • Frequent aircraft cleaning disinfection following guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the World Health Organization
  • Aircrafts are operated by fully vaccinated pilots and cabin crew.

AirAsia

Following the announcement by the Malaysian government that face masks are no longer mandatory on flights, AirAsia Malaysia (AK) has exempted the use of face masks on its flights effective immediately.

The use of face masks on board flights is optional for AirAsia Malaysia (AK) guests, unless they are travelling to or from destinations that require a face mask. Guests who wish to wear a face mask on board may continue to do so.

As safety is our highest priority, AirAsia will continue to operate with the strictest safety standards. All our aircraft are equipped with powerful HEPA filters that remove 99.99% of dust particles and airborne contaminants including viruses and bacteria. The cabin air is completely refreshed every three minutes to ensure the highest possible quality of air throughout your flight.

We will continue to update the guidelines on the use of face masks on board for all other markets that we operate in as we return to the skies.

 

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Malaysia Abolishes Indoor Face Mask Mandate!

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Malaysia just abolished the indoor mask mandate, removing all requirements to wear a face mask, except in specific situations!

Here is what you need to know…

 

Malaysia Abolishes Indoor Face Mask Mandate!

On 1 May 2022, Malaysia abolished the requirement to wear a face mask outdoors. However, the indoor mask mandate was maintained.

On 7 September 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced the abolishment of the indoor mask mandate as well!

This new ruling starts with immediate effect – on Wednesday, 7 September 2022.

Read more : Malaysia : Face Mask No Longer Required Outdoors!

 

Malaysia : Face Mask Not Required Indoors Except…

Wearing Face Mask Indoor Is Mostly Optional

The wearing of face mask indoors will now be optional, but strongly encouraged for:

  • public places that are crowded like night markets, stadiums, shopping malls and places of worship.
  • individuals with symptoms like fever, cough and flu
  • high-risk individuals like senior citizens, people suffering from chronic illness, immunocompromised individuals and pregnant mothers
  • individuals conducting any kind of activity with high-risk individuals like senior citizens and children

However, premise owners will be allowed to decide whether customers will be required to wear a face mask to enter their premises.

When Wearing Face Mask Indoor Is Mandatory

There are a few instances in which wearing a face mask is still mandatory indoors:

  • individuals who test positive for COVID-19
  • individuals using public transportation like bus, train, taxi (including e-hailing rides), airplane, as well as bus and vans transporting school children or workers.
  • when in health facilities like hospitals, clinics, care centre, haemodialysis centre, and so on.

The Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) also reminds the public that while the face mask mandate for outdoors was abolished on 1 May 2022, it still encourages people to wear a face mask when:

  • in public places that are crowded
  • when you have symptoms like fever, cough and flu
  • if you are a high-risk individual
  • if you are planning to undertake activities with high-risk individuals like senior citizens and children

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Malaysia No Longer Requires Traveller’s Pass!

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All travellers to Malaysia will no longer be required to obtain the Traveller’s Pass in MySejahtera!

Here is what you need to know…

 

Currently : Foreign Travellers Need Traveller’s Pass To Enter Malaysia!

Since 1 May 2022, the Malaysian government has liberalised air travel into Malaysia, waiving both quarantine and insurance requirements.

However, they still require foreign travellers to fill in their details in MySejahtera, to obtain a Traveller’s Pass, prior to departure.

  1. Download the MySejahtera app, and register for your MySejahtera account.
  2. Click on the Traveller icon in MySejahtera, and complete the pre-departure form
    a) fully-vaccinated travellers will receive a Digital Traveller’s Card
    b) partially vaccinated / unvaccinated travellers will receive a Digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO).

This requirement used to apply to Malaysian citizens too, but was waived starting 4 July 2022.

Read more : Air Travel To Malaysia : Latest Covid-19 Requirements + SOP!

 

Now : Traveller’s Pass No Longer Required To Travel To Malaysia!

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced on 31 July 2022 that all travellers will no longer be required to obtain the Traveller’s Pass.

Starting Monday, 1 August 2022, all travellers to Malaysia – citizens and foreigners alike – will no longer be required to fill in their details using the Traveller option in MySejahtera, to obtain a Traveller’s Pass or Digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO).

With this relaxation, travelling to Malaysia will essentially return to pre-pandemic norms. All you need to enter Malaysia is a valid passport, and a visa (if required).

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Malaysia Offers 2nd Booster To 50+ Years + Travellers!

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Malaysia is now offering the 2nd booster dose to those who are 50 years or older, as well as people planning to travel overseas!

Here is what you need to know…

 

Earlier : Malaysia Gives 2nd Booster Dose To High-Risk Individuals!

Back in mid-April 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) offered a second booster dose to high-risk individuals :

  • High-risk senior citizens aged 60 years and above, with co-morbidities like
    – diabetes
    – chronic lung disease
    – chronic renal disease, underlying dialysis
    – chronic liver disease
    – cerebrovascular disease
    – heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy
    – chronic neurological diseases
    – BMI of over 40
    – residents of long-term care facilities
  • Individuals who received the Sinovac or Sinopharm booster dose for travel purposes
  • Healthy senior citizens are advised to consult a doctor for second booster dose recommendation

Read more : Second Booster Dose Offered To High-Risk Individuals!

 

Now : Malaysia Gives 2nd Booster To 50+ Years + Travellers!

On 19 July 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin, announced that the government will now offer the 2nd booster dose to :

  • individuals those who are 50 years and older, even if they do not have co-morbidities, and
  • individuals who are planning to travel overseas

The group in the 50-59 age bracket without any chronic diseases and anyone 50 and below who wants to travel overseas can receive second vaccine boosters.

As announced earlier, the second booster dose will continue to be offered to high-risk individuals living in long-term care facilities, adults 18 years and older with co-morbidities, and COVID-19 frontliners.

The second booster dose will be the Pfizer COMIRNATY vaccine, and it will be given :

  • at least 4-6 months after the first booster dose for senior citizens,
  • at least 3 months after recovery for senior citizens who had a COVID-19 infection,
  • and at least 1 month after the first booster dose for Sinovac / SInopharm recipients.

This second booster dose is optional, and is not compulsory. Your vaccination status will not change, whether you take the second booster dose or not.

You can either book your booster dose appointment on MySejahtera, or look for a nearby private healthcare facility offering a booster dose.

These booster doses are offered for FREE by the Malaysian government, as part of the PICK vaccination programme.

 

Why 2nd Booster Dose For Travellers Leaving Malaysia?

Even though many countries have opened up their economies, and even to travellers; the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over.

Many countries are now facing spikes in COVID-19 cases, thanks to new Omicron subvariants that are highly contagious, and evade protection from both previous infections and vaccinations.

Thus, a second booster dose before travelling overseas will offer a short  but useful boost in antibodies that could protect travellers as they fly out of Malaysia into other countries.

This is particularly important for those who received the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines. Both Chinese vaccines offer markedly lower protection, which quickly wane over a matter of weeks.

A Yale University study, for example, showed that Sinovac vaccine recipients will require TWO Pfizer booster doses, to adequately protect against the Omicron variant.

Therefore, if you received Sinovac / Sinopharm vaccine earlier, I highly recommend that you get the booster doses, even if you are not planning to travel overseas.

Read more : Why Sinovac recipients may need TWO Pfizer booster doses!

There is also a more practical consideration for people travelling overseas – some countries in Europe do not recognise the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines, both as a primary series vaccine or a booster dose.

Therefore, they will be allowed to obtain a second booster dose, at least one month after receiving their first booster dose.

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Air Travel To Malaysia : Latest Covid-19 Requirements + SOP!

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Here are the LATEST COVID-19 requirements and SOP for those plan to travel by air to Malaysia!

Updated @ 2022-07-03 : Malaysian citizens are no longer required to register for Traveller’s Pass.
Updated @ 2022-06-13 : Added the current COVID-19 vaccination requirements
Originally posted @ 2022-04-28

 

Malaysia Air Travel : Current COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements

Currently, travellers to Malaysia must provide documentation that they have completed a full regimen of a COVID-19 vaccine recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), or by a stringent regulatory authority in the country of origin.

There are additional requirements on COVID-19 vaccination for travellers :

  • Those aged 60 years and above are required to receive a booster dose.
  • Those received two doses of Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccine, regardless of age, must receive a third dose (of any vaccine) to qualify as fully-vaccinated.

The definition of a full regimen of a COVID-19 vaccine includes the number of doses required to provide the full vaccine protection, as well as the time needed to achieve protection against COVID-19.

Currently, that means 14 days after the second dose of a two (2) dose vaccine, or 14 days after a one (1) dose vaccine. In the case of Sinopharm / Sinovac vaccine recipients, that would mean 14 days after the third dose.

You are also considered fully-vaccinated immediately after receiving your booster dose.

Please make sure you submit your vaccination information through the Travellers option in MySejahtera, before your flight to Malaysia.

After submitting your COVID-19 vaccination details, you will receive a Travellers digital card, which allows you entry into Malaysia on arrival.

 

Malaysia Air Travel Test + Quarantine Rules From 1 May 2022!

On 27 April 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced new test and quarantine rules for travellers flying to Malaysia.

These COVID-19 test and quarantine rules take effect from Sunday, 1 May 2022 onwards!

A. Children 12 Years Or Younger : No Test, No Quarantine!

Irrespective of their vaccination status, children who are 12 years old or younger do NOT need to :

  • undergo pre-departure test
  • undergo on-arrival test, or
  • undergo HSO quarantine

B. Fully-Vaccinated 13 Years Or Older : No Test, No Quarantine!

Fully-vaccinated adolescents and adults who are 13 years or older do NOT need to :

  • undergo pre-departure test
  • undergo on-arrival test, or
  • undergo HSO quarantine

C. Partially-Vaccinated / Unvaccinated 13-17 Years Old : No Quarantine!

Adolescents who are 13-17 years old, and are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated do NOT need to undergo HSO quarantine on arrival in Malaysia.

However, they will need to undergo :

  • a PCR test within 48 hours before departure to Malaysia, and
  • a supervised RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival in Malaysia.

D. Vaccinated Adults : No Test, No Quarantine!

Fully-vaccinated adults (18 years and older), with or without a booster dose, do NOT need to :

  • undergo pre-departure test
  • undergo on-arrival test, or
  • undergo HSO quarantine

E. Unvaccinated with Medical Exemption : No Quarantine!

Unvaccinated individuals with a medical exemption will be allowed, on a case-by-case basis, to travel to Malaysia without a mandatory quarantine.

However, they must undergo :

  • a PCR test within 48 hours before departure to Malaysia, and
  • a professional RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival in Malaysia.

F. Unvaccinated Adults : 5 Day Quarantine

Adult travellers (18 years and older) who are partially-vaccinated, or completely unvaccinated, must :

  • undergo a 5-day mandatory quarantine on arrival in Malaysia, and
  • undergo a PCR test on Day 4, or a professional RTK-Ag test on Day 5.

Travellers who are exempt from vaccination for health reasons must upload the evidence of medical exemption into the MySejahtera app.

G. Unvaccinated + Post COVID-19 : 5 Day Quarantine

Unvaccinated individuals who recovered from COVID-19 (infected in the last 6-60 days) must:

  • undergo a 5-day mandatory quarantine on arrival in Malaysia, and
  • undergo a PCR test on Day 4, or a professional RTK-Ag test on Day 5.

If they were not hospitalised, they must undergo :

  • a professional RTK-Ag test within 48 hours before departure to Malaysia, and
  • a professional RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival in Malaysia.

If they were hospitalised, they can use a Fit To Travel letter from the hospital.

 

Latest Malaysia Air Travel Procedure From 4 July 2022!

On 27 April 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health issued the official procedure for travellers who arrive by air, that will take effect from 1 May 2022 onwards.

It was then updated on 1 July 2022, with the abolishment of the Traveller’s Pass for Malaysian citizens.

Before Departure

  1. Download the MySejahtera app, and register for your MySejahtera account. *
  2. Click on the Traveller icon in MySejahtera, and complete the pre-departure form
    a) fully-vaccinated travellers will receive a Digital Traveller’s Card *
    b) partially vaccinated / unvaccinated travellers will receive a Digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO).
  3. All unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers 13 years and above must undergo a PCR test 2 days before departure.
  4. Those who had a previous COVID-19 infection (within 6-60 days before departure) must undergo a professional RTK-Ag test 2 days before departure, or alternatively, have a Free-To-Travel letter if they were hospitalised for COVID-19 during that time.
  5. You do NOT need to purchase travel and COVID-19 insurance.

* No longer necessary for Malaysian citizens, starting 4 July 2022.

On Arrival

  1. All partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers 13 years and above must undergo a supervised RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival in Malaysia.
    a) this supervised RTK-Ag test can be performed at any health facility of your choice, or virtually
    b) COVID-19 breathalyser / professional RTK-Ag tests are available at the airport
    c) Cost of on-arrival RTK-Ag test must be borne by the travellers.
  2. Children below the age of 13, and travellers from Singapore are exempted from the on-arrival test.
  3. Partially-vaccinated / unvaccinated travellers must undergo a mandatory 5-day quarantine.
  4. IMPORTANT : Travellers transiting through Malaysian international airports to Sabah or Sarawak must undergo professional RTK-Ag at the airport, before departing.

Testing Positive On Arrival

If you test positive on arrival, you must undergo a mandatory HSO quarantine of 7 days.

You can opt for the new Day 4 test and release procedure, by undertaking a supervised RTK-Ag test on Day 4 of your quarantine.

  • If you test negative, you are allowed to immediately terminate your quarantine.
  • If you test positive, you must complete your 7-day quarantine

Read more : Day 4 Test + Release For COVID-19 Positive In Malaysia!

Testing Positive During Quarantine

If you are a partially vaccinated / unvaccinated traveller, you will need to undergo a 5-day quarantine, and get tested on Day 4 (PCR) or Day 5 (RTK-Ag).

If you test positive on Day 4 or Day 5, your quarantine will get extended for 5 more days.

 

Malaysia Air Travel Test + Quarantine SOP : Summary

To make it easier to compare the myriad air travel requirements to Malaysia, I created this table to summarise the key requirements.

Vaccination Status Pre-Departure On Arrival Additional Test
or Quarantine
Child (< 13 Years) * No Test Required No Test
No Quarantine
Fully Vaccinated (≥ 13 Years)
Partially-Vaccinated or
Unvaccinated (13-17 Years)		 PCR test
within 2 days		 Supervised
RTK-Ag
within 24 hours
of arrival
On-Arrival
Professional
RTK-Ag
for travellers
transiting to
Sabah or
Sarawak
Not Vaccinated with
Medical Exemption
Partially Vaccinated or
Unvaccinated (≥18 Years)		 5-Day Quarantine
with
Day 4 PCR or
Day 5 RTK
Partially Vaccinated
or Unvaccinated
+ Post-COVID-19
(6-60 Days)		 Professional
RTK-Ag
within 2 days
or FTT letter **
if hospitalised

* By year of birth
** Also professional RTK-Ag if recovered from COVID-19 infection 6-60 days before departure
*** FTT = Fit To Travel

 

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Malaysian Citizens Don’t Need MySejahtera Traveller’s Pass!

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Citizens returning to Malaysia will no longer be required to obtain the Traveller’s Pass in MySejahtera!

Here is what you need to know…

 

Currently : MySejahtera Traveller’s Pass Required To Enter Malaysia!

Since 1 May 2022, the Malaysian government has liberalised air travel into Malaysia, waiving both quarantine and insurance requirements.

However, they still require all travellers to fill in their details in MySejahtera, to obtain a Traveller’s Pass, prior to departure.

  1. Download the MySejahtera app, and register for your MySejahtera account.
  2. Click on the Traveller icon in MySejahtera, and complete the pre-departure form
    a) fully-vaccinated travellers will receive a Digital Traveller’s Card
    b) partially vaccinated / unvaccinated travellers will receive a Digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO).

This requirement applies to both citizens and foreigners alike – everyone must apply using the Traveller option in MySejahtera.

Read more : Air Travel To Malaysia : Latest Covid-19 Requirements + SOP!

 

Now : Malaysian Citizens Don’t Need MySejahtera Traveller’s Pass!

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced on 1 July 2022 that Malaysian citizens will no longer be required to obtain the Traveller’s Pass.

Starting Monday, 4 July 2022, travellers to Malaysia will no longer be required to fill in their details using the Traveller option in MySejahtera, to obtain a Traveller’s Pass or Digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO).

However, this is currently limited only to Malaysian citizens. The government will gradually extend this privilege to other groups like social pass holders, students, and permanent residents.

Therefore, all travellers who are not Malaysian citizens must continue to fill in their details using the Traveller option in MySejahtera, and obtain the Traveller’s Pass.

 

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KKM Announces Extra COVID-19 Vaccine Doses!

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The Malaysia Ministry of Health, KKM, just announced extra COVID-19 vaccine doses for selected groups!

Here is what you need to know!

 

KKM Announces Extra COVID-19 Vaccine Doses!

On 29 June 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) announced a slew of changes, including extra COVID-19 vaccine doses for selected groups.

Booster Dose For Immunocompromised Individuals Considered 3rd Dose

For individuals who are 5 to 17 years old, with moderate or severe immunocompromise, the primary series vaccine is now considered to consist of 3 doses.

  • Those who received a booster dose earlier, will be considered as fully-vaccinated with 3 doses
  • Those who did not receive a booster dose yet, will need a third dose to be considered fully-vaccinated.

3rd Primary Dose For Immunocompromised 5-11 Years Old

Individuals who are 5 to 11 years old, with moderate or severe immunocompromise, are recommended to receive a third dose to complete their primary series vaccination.

The third dose is to be given at least eight (8) weeks after receiving the second dose.

3rd Primary Dose For Immunocompromised 12-17 Years Old

Individuals who are 12 to 17 years old, with moderate or severe immunocompromise, are recommended to receive a third dose to complete their primary series vaccination.

The third dose is to be given at least 28 days after receiving the second dose.

1st Booster Dose For Immunocompromised 12-17 Years Old

Individuals who are 12 to 17 years old, with moderate or severe immunocompromise, are recommended to receive a first booster dose after completing their 3-dose primary series vaccination.

The first booster dose is to be given at least three (3) months after receiving the third primary dose.

2nd Booster Dose For High-Risk Adults

KKM is also recommending a 2nd booster dose for high-risk adults, currently defined as :

  • 18 to 59 year old individuals who are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19
  • Frontline medical professionals, like medical officers, nurses, etc.

The second booster dose is to be given at least six (6) months after receiving the first booster dose, and after discussing with a registered medical professional

CanSino Booster Dose For All Adults

KKM is also offering the Convidecia vaccine from CanSino Biologics as a heterologous booster dose for all adults 18 years and older, who have received all doses of a primary series COVID-19 vaccine, other than Convidecia or Sinovac.

This CanSino booster dose is to be given at least three (3) months after receiving the second dose of the primary series vaccine.

 

KKM To Announce How To Get Extra COVID-19 Vaccine Doses!

KKM has not finalised the mechanism or the procedure to obtain these extra COVID-19 vaccine doses, and will announce the details later.

But they are calling on Malaysian citizens and residents to step forward to get the extra COVID-19 vaccine doses, once the details are announced.

 

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Malaysia : No More COVID-19 Test / Insurance For Travellers!

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Travellers to Malaysia will NO LONGER be required to undergo pre-departure and on-arrival testing for COVID-19, or purchase travel insurance!

 

Malaysia : No More COVID-19 Test For Most Travellers!

On 27 April 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced a wide range of COVID-19 liberalisation moves :

Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, these groups of travellers will NO LONGER be required to undergo pre-departure testing and on-arrival testing for COVID-19!

  • Fully-vaccinated individuals who are 13 years or older
  • Individuals who recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6-60 days
  • Individuals who are 12 years or younger, regardless of vaccination status

This ruling applies to both Malaysian citizens, as well as foreigners, including those performing the Hat and even foreign workers.

Please note that ALL travellers must still submit information through the Travellers option in MySejahtera, and obtain the Travellers digital card.

Travellers who are 13 years or older, and are not yet fully vaccinated, must continue with the existing testing and quarantine protocol :

  • Not vaccinated with medical exemption : pre-departure PCR test within 2 days, professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, no quarantine.
  • Partially-vaccinated / unvaccinated (13-17 yo) : pre-departure PCR test within 2 days, professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, no quarantine.
  • Partially vaccinated / unvaccinated : pre-departure PCR test within 2 days, professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, 5-day quarantine.
  • Partially vaccinated / unvaccinated post COVID-19 : pre-departure professional RTK-Ag within 2 days (or Fit To Travel letter if hospitalised), professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, 5-day quarantine.

Travellers who test positive on arrival in Malaysia will be asked to undergo a professional RTK-Ag test on-the-spot.

To make it easier for you to understand, I created this table to summarise the new rules :

Vaccination Status Pre-Departure On Arrival Additional Test
or Quarantine
Child (< 13 Years) * No Test Required No Test
No Quarantine
Travellers From
Singapore
Boosted (≥18 Years)
Fully Vaccinated (≥ 13 Years)
Fully Vaccinated +
Post-COVID-19 (6-60 Days)
Partially-Vaccinated or
Unvaccinated (13-17 Years)		 PCR test
within 2 days		 Professional
RTK-Ag
within 24 hours
of arrival
On-Arrival
Professional
RTK-Ag
for travellers
transiting to
Sabah or
Sarawak
Not Vaccinated with
Medical Exemption
Partially Vaccinated or
Unvaccinated (≥18 Years)		 5-Day Quarantine
with
Day 4 PCR or
Day 5 RTK
Partially Vaccinated
or Unvaccinated
+ Post-COVID-19
(6-60 Days)		 Professional
RTK-Ag
within 2 days
or FTT letter **
if hospitalised

* By year of birth
** Also professional RTK-Ag if recovered from COVID-19 infection 6-60 days before departure
*** FTT = Fit To Travel

 

Malaysia : No More COVID-19 Insurance For Foreign Travellers!

Foreign travellers were earlier required to purchase COVID-19 and travel insurance with coverage of at least US$20,000 before travelling to Malaysia.

Only these groups are earlier exempted from the requirement to purchase COVID-19 and travel insurance :

  • Fully-vaccinated citizens of Singapore or Malaysia
  • Fully-vaccinated permanent residents of Singapore or Malaysia
  • Fully-vaccinated Long-term Pass Holders of Singapore or Malaysia

That changes from Sunday, May 1, 2022 onwards – the US$20K travel insurance requirement is NO LONGER REQUIRED for ALL foreign travellers!

So foreigners can travel to Malaysia without that additional cost. Of course, getting travel insurance is always a good idea.

 

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Malaysia : Unvaccinated Allowed To Enter All Premises!

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Malaysia will allow unvaccinated individuals to enter all premises!

Here is what you need to know…

 

Unvaccinated Will Be Allowed To Enter All Premises!

On 27 April 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced a wide range of COVID-19 liberalisation moves :

Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, unvaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter all private or public premises, s!

Owners of premises are only required to check the MySejahtera app of people entering, to prevent entry by :

  • Individuals who are still positive for COVID-19
  • Individuals who are still undergoing HSO (Home Surveillance Order) quarantine
    This includes travellers who are not fully-vaccinated, and just arrived in Malaysia

So please make sure you continue to use MySejahtera, even though it will also not be mandatory to check-in using the MySejahtera QR code.

You are also strongly advised to enable MySJ Trace, to help facilitate accurate contact tracing.

Read more : How To Enable + Disable MySJ Trace In MySejahtera

 

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Day 4 Test + Release For COVID-19 Positive In Malaysia!

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Malaysia will initiate a faster Day 4 Test + Release procedure for COVID-19 positive cases!

Here is what you need to know…

 

Day 4 Test + Release For COVID-19 Positive In Malaysia!

On 27 April 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced a wide range of COVID-19 liberalisation moves :

Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, this will be the new optional Test + Release procedure for COVID-19 positive cases :

  1. Once you test positive for COVID-19, you must undergo a 7-day HSO (Home Surveillance Order) quarantine.
  2. On Day 4 of the quarantine, you can undergo a supervised (physical or virtual) RTK-Ag test for COVID-19.
  3. The test result will be uploaded into your MySejahtera by the medical practitioner :
    a) If the test result is negative, you may end your quarantine with immediate effect
    b) If the test result is positive, you must complete your 7-day quarantine

No further test is required on Day 7, or thereafter, for those who tested positive on Day 4. You are immediately released from your quarantine.

Please note that the Day 4 test and release procedure is completely optional, and is meant to offer an expedited release from the HSO quarantine.

You can choose NOT to undertake the supervised RTK-Ag test on Day 4 of your quarantine. You just need to complete the full 7-day quarantine, and you will be released automatically.

 

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Malaysia : Negative List Business Activities Will Be Allowed!

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Malaysia will soon permit business activities in the Negative List to resume! Here is what you need to know…

 

Malaysia : Negative List Business Activities Will Be Allowed!

On 27 April 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced a wide range of COVID-19 liberalisation moves :

Starting Sunday, May 15, 2022, all business activities currently in the Negative List will be permitted to resume, pending protocols by the respective authorities.

Currently, the only business activity still on the Negative List of forbidden business activities are night club or pub activities

This will be a relief for night club and pub owners who have had to shut down their main business activities for over two years.

In addition, business premises are allowed to operate at 100% venue capacity, and both MySejahtera check-in and physical distancing will no longer be required.

However, please note that this will only take effect on May 15, and not May 1 like the other COVID-19 liberalisation announced by the government.

 

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MySejahtera Check-In + Physical Distancing Will Be Optional!

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You will NO LONGER be required to check-in using MySejahtera, or ensure physical distancing, in Malaysia!

Here is what you need to know!

 

MySejahtera Check-In + Physical Distancing Will Be Optional!

On 27 April 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced a wide range of COVID-19 liberalisation moves :

Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, all individuals – irrespective of vaccination status – will NO LONGER be required to check in at premises using MySejahtera.

However, the Malaysia Ministry of Health strongly recommends that you turn on MySJ Trace, to allow for accurate contact tracing.

That does not mean you can uninstall MySejahtera, because premise owners are still required to check your status – COVID-19 positive individuals, and those who have to undergo HSO quarantine are still NOT allowed into public spaces.

In addition, MySejahtera is required to show digital proof of your COVID-19 vaccination for travel purposes, as well for reporting your COVID-19 self-tests.

Read more : How To Enable + Disable MySJ Trace In MySejahtera

As all economic activities will now be allowed with 100% venue capacity, physical distancing is NO LONGER required, starting Sunday, May 1, 2022.

However, the Ministry of Health strongly recommends physical distancing in crowded situations, especially if you are not wearing a face mask.

 

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Malaysia : Face Mask No Longer Required Outdoors!

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Malaysia just announced that you will NO LONGER be required to wear a face mask while you are outdoors!

Here is what you need to know!

 

Malaysia : Face Mask No Longer Required Outdoors!

On 27 April 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced a wide range of COVID-19 liberalisation moves :

Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, all individuals – irrespective of vaccination status – will NO LONGER be required to wear a face mask while outdoors.

That said, the Malaysia Ministry of Health strongly recommends that you continue to wear a face mask outdoors, if possible. It will just be optional, and no longer mandatory.

However, please note that you are still required to wear a face mask whenever you enter an indoor premise (including shopping malls, schools and offices) or public transport (including e-hailing rides).

The government will continue to enforce the face mask mandate for indoor premises and public transport, except for these indoor situations :

  • performing heavy exercises (like in a gym)
  • alone within a specific space (like in your own office)
  • while you are eating or drinking
  • while you are giving a speech or presentation
  • while you are performing on stage

The Health Minister stressed the importance of wearing the face mask indoors, and on public transport, as ventilation is not as good as outdoors.

Even though it is not mandatory, the Malaysia Ministry of Health strongly recommends that you wear a face mask while in crowded situations outdoors (like at a Ramadan bazaar or a stadium).

They also strongly recommend that you wear a face mask if you are symptomatic, or are about to visit vulnerable individuals like the elderly, or people who are immunocompromised.

 

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Booster Deadline For Seniors + Sinovac Extended… Again!

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The deadline for ALL senior citizens and Sinovac vaccine recipients to receive a booster dose in Malaysia has been extended… AGAIN!

 

Booster Deadline For Seniors + Sinovac Recipients Extended Again!

On 7 February 2022, Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that these individuals will be required to get a booster dose by 28 February 2022.

  • 60 years and older who were fully-vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine
  • 18 years and older who were fully-vaccinated with the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine

On 24 February 2022, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that the deadline has been extended, and both groups will have until the 31 March 2022 to get their booster dose.

On 1 April 2022, the Malaysia Health Ministry (KKM) extended the deadline again, this time by three (3) months.

This means individuals in both groups who do not get their booster dose will lose their fully-vaccinated status only on 1 July 2022, .

To be clear – this is not a vaccine mandate. You are free to refuse the booster dose. However, your MySejahtera will show that you are not fully-vaccinated.

 

KKM Still Offers Sinovac Booster Dose

On 7 February, the Health Minister also shared that 3.5 million people who were fully-vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine still have not received their booster dose.

To encourage them to get their booster dose, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) is now offering Sinovac recipients the option of a Sinovac booster dose.

KKM however strongly recommends that Sinovac recipients receive either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca booster dose, because they offer much better protection.

They are only offering the Sinovac booster dose, because it is better than not taking one at all. As Khairy quipped, “If you are going to travel to a cold country and refuse the coat that KKM offers, it’s better that we give you a t-shirt than let you go naked“.

That’s quite an apt description, as recent studies (here, here and here) have shown that the Sinovac booster dose is about as useful as a t-shirt in winter.

That said, Khairy also said that there are currently no plans for a 4th shot for Sinovac recipients.

Read more : Why Sinovac Recipients May Need Two Pfizer Booster Doses!

That is why I completely agree with KKM, and highly recommend that Sinovac recipients opt for the much better Pfizer or AstraZeneca booster dose.

If you prefer a Chinese vaccine for work or geopolitical reasons, then opt for the Sinopharm vaccine, which is at least slightly better than the Sinovac vaccine.

But no matter what you choose – please get the booster dose ASAP.

You can walk-in for your booster dose at any Mega PPV or Offsite PPV, or get an appointment at a GP PPV. So it’s really convenient.

Read more : Walk-In Booster Dose Available At All PPVs Across Malaysia!

 

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KKM : MySejahtera Was NOT Sold To Private Company!

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The Malaysia Ministry of Health has clarified that the MySejahtera app and its data was not sold to any private company.

Here is what you need to know!

 

Claim : MySejahtera Was Sold To Private Company!

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed that MySejahtera will be sold to a private company – MySJ Sdn. Bhd. through direct negotiation.

The MySejahtera application was rolled out in April 2020, under the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM). It was built by KPISoft (now Entomo) as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.

According to his statement, the government appointed MySJ Sdn. Bhd. through direct negotiation to take over MySejahtera on 26 November 2021.

Then in December 2021, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) proposed that the government should take over MySejahtera since it is now “an integral part of the national health system”.

 

KKM : MySejahtera Was NOT Be Sold To Private Company!

On 27 March 2022, the Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin issued a press statement, clarifying that the government did not sell MySejahtera to any private company.

Here are the key points of his statement on the claims that MySejahtera was sold to MySJ Sdn. Bhd. :

  1. On 26 November 2021, the government decided that MySejahtera is owned by the government, and the Ministry of Health (KKM) was appointed as the main owner of the application.
  2. The government did not pay KPISoft any money for the development of MySejahtera, which was carried out from 27 March 2020 until 31 March 2021.
    This was based on the company’s offer to let the government use the app for one year for free, as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
  3. After the CSR period ended on 31 March 2021, the government agreed to extend the use of MySejahtera, and work with KPISoft to expand its features.
  4. On 26 November 2021, the government ordered KKM to form a Price Negotiation Committee comprising of stakeholder agencies to negotiate the purchase and service maintenance of MySejahtera for two (2) years.
    The scope of the procurement and management of the MySejahtera app included operating MySejahtera, system development including additional modules, maintenance, datacenter management and third-party services like Google Map and Places API, as well as SMS services.
  5. On 28 February 2022, the Ministry of Finance approved KKM’s procurement of the MySejahtera app.
  6. MySejahtera data has been under KKM’s supervision from the first day it was used, and the data is processed according to KKM procedures.
  7. KKM does not share MySejahtera data with any government agency, or private companies.
  8. All data from the MySejahtera app are uploaded to a cloud server network, and can only be accessed by the MySejahtera app only.

In short, the MySejahtera app was not sold to any private company, and was purchased by the Ministry of Health with approval from the Ministry of Finance on 28 February 2022.

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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ALL Sinovac + Sinopharm Recipients MUST Get Booster Dose!

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Please note that ALL Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccine recipients must get a booster dose, or lose their fully-vaccinated status in April!

Here is what you need to know…

 

ALL Sinovac + Sinopharm Recipients MUST Get Booster Dose!

On 24 February 2022, Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that all adult recipients of the Sinovac vaccine must get a booster dose by 31 March 2022.

That was extended on 24 March 2022, to include individuals 18 years and older who were fully vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine.

Starting 1 April 2022, all adults who received the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccine will lose their fully-vaccinated status, if they fail to get their booster dose.

Instead, they will receive a Partially Vaccinated status in their MySejahtera app.

COVID-19 Vaccine No. of Doses 18-59
Years Old		 60 Years Old
& Above
Sinovac
Sinopharm 		2 Doses Partially Vaccinated
3 Doses Fully Vaccinated

This also includes senior citizens 60 years and older, regardless of which vaccine they received earlier. They must ALL receive their booster dose, or receive a Partially Vaccinated status in their MySejahtera app.

COVID-19 Vaccine No. of Doses 60 Years Old
& Above
Sinovac
Sinopharm 		2 Doses Partially Vaccinated
3 Doses Fully Vaccinated
Pfizer
Moderna
AstraZeneca
Covaxin
Covishield
Novavax
Sputnik V
 2 Doses Partially Vaccinated
3 Doses Fully Vaccinated
CanSino
Janssen
Sputnik Light
 1 Dose Partially Vaccinated
2 Doses Fully Vaccinated

Read more : COVID-19 Vaccination Status Changes On 1 April 2022!

 

What Booster Dose Is Best For Sinovac / Sinopharm Recipients?

The Malaysia Ministry of Health is offering four different booster doses for FREE.

  • Sinovac Recipients : Pfizer, AstraZeneca, CanSino or Sinovac
  • Sinopharm Recipients : Pfizer or AstraZeneca

The best booster dose you can receive is the Pfizer booster dose, followed by the AstraZeneca booster dose.

They are not only better vaccines (with higher efficacy), the mixing of vaccines (heterologous vaccination) will greatly increase protection against the coronavirus.

Heterologous vaccination is like learning different martial arts. By learning different ways to handle the coronavirus, your immune system is better able to beat COVID-19.

If you must have a Chinese vaccine (for travel and personal reasons), then opt for the CanSino vaccine.

They are also allowing you to walk-into the nearest PPV (COVID-19 vaccination centre) for your booster dose.

So take this opportunity to get a boost in your protection against COVID-19!

Read more : Malaysia COVID-19 Booster Dose Policy : 22 March Edition!
Read more : Pfizer vs. Sinovac Vaccine : Which Is Better For Your Child?
Read more : Why Sinovac Recipients May Need Two Pfizer Booster Doses!

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Malaysia COVID-19 Booster Dose Policy : 22 Mar 2022!

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Here is our LATEST summary of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose policy in Malaysia, as of 21 March 2022!

 

Malaysia Ramping Up COVID-19 Booster Dose Program!

Malaysia started the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose programme on 13 October 2021, targeting those who received the Pfizer vaccine more than 6 months ago.

It was then expanded to those who received the Sinovac vaccine more than 3 months ago, on 22 October 2021.

On 9 November 2021, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) announced that it would be made available to younger adults.

On 24 November 2021, KKM announced that it will be open to anyone above 18, including those who received AstraZeneca, Cansino, Sinopharm and Janssen vaccines.

On 16 December 2021, KKM made it mandatory for vulnerable individuals to receive the booster shot, to be considered as fully-vaccinated.

On 28 December 2021, KKM halved the booster dose interval for most COVID-19 vaccines!

On 21 March 2022, KKM added the CanSino booster dose to the PICK vaccination programme, and updated its booster dose recommendations.

 

Latest COVID-19 Booster Dose Policy In Malaysia Explained!

Here is our summary of Malaysia’s COVID-19 vaccine booster dose policy!

Why Should We Get It?

It is recommended that you get the booster dose to better protect against more contagious COVID-19 variants like the Delta variant, and the new Omicron variant.

The primary series of COVID-19 vaccines continues to protect you against hospitalisation and death. However, the Delta and Omicron variants are partially-resistant to the vaccines, and will cause more breakthrough infections.

While most of these breakthrough infections will be mild or moderate, it puts vulnerable people – the elderly and people with co-morbidities – at risk. That’s why they are being given the booster shot first, over everyone else.

In addition, antibody protection from COVID-19 vaccines has been shown to wane over 2-6 months, so booster doses are necessary to restore optimal protection.

Read more : Sinovac Vaccine Efficacy Rapidly Drops After 2 Months!
Read more : Why The Delta Variant Causes MORE Breakthrough Infections!

What Vaccines Have Been Approved As Booster Dose?

The Malaysia Drug Control Authority (DCA) approved the Pfizer booster dose on 8 October 2021.

Only on 17 November 2021 did they also approve the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines as booster doses.

Then on 6 January 2022, they approved the CanSino vaccine as a booster dose.

How Soon Can You Get The Booster Dose?

You can now get your booster dose as early as THREE (3) months after completing your primary series for most vaccines, or TWO (2) months for the Janssen vaccine.

Here is a table I created to summarise the booster options and when you can get one :

Primary Series
Vaccine
 Recommended
Booster 		Timing After
Primary Series
Pfizer Pfizer or AstraZeneca After 3 months
AstraZeneca Pfizer or AstraZeneca
Sinovac Pfizer, AstraZeneca,
CanSino or Sinovac
Sinopharm Pfizer or AstraZeneca
Moderna Pfizer or AstraZeneca
CanSino Pfizer, AstraZeneca
or CanSino
Sputnik V Pfizer or AstraZeneca
Janssen Pfizer or AstraZeneca After 2 months

Pfizer Recipients : What Vaccine Can You Use?

Those who received the Pfizer vaccine can receive their booster shot 3 months after Dose 2.

  • Recommended : Pfizer booster shot
  • Alternative : AstraZeneca booster shot

AstraZeneca Recipients : What Vaccine Can You Use?

Those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine can receive their booster shot 3 months after Dose 2.

  • Recommended : Pfizer booster shot
  • Alternative : AstraZeneca booster shot

Sinovac Recipients : What Vaccine Can You Use?

Those who received the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine can receive their booster shot 3 months after Dose 2.

  • Recommended : Pfizer booster shot
  • Alternative : AstraZeneca / CanSino / Sinovac booster shot

If you are not comfortable with the Pfizer vaccine, please consider the AstraZeneca booster shot instead, because it is far superior to the Sinovac booster shot.

If you must have a Chinese vaccine, then consider the CanSino booster shot, which is superior to the Sinovac booster shot.

Read more : Can You And Should You Get A Sinovac Booster Dose?
Read more : Sinovac Vaccine Efficacy Rapidly Drops After 2 Months!

Sinopharm Recipients : What Vaccine Can You Use?

Those who received the Sinopharm vaccine can receive their booster shot 3 months after Dose 2.

  • Recommended : Pfizer booster shot
  • Alternative : AstraZeneca booster shot

Note : CITF-B originally allowed a third dose of Sinopharm as a booster shot, but it has NOT been approved by the NPRA, and is therefore not available at the moment.

Moderna Recipients : What Vaccine Can You Use?

Those who received the Moderna vaccine can receive their booster shot 3 months after Dose 2.

  • Recommended : Pfizer booster shot
  • Alternative : AstraZeneca booster shot

Sputnik V Recipients : What Vaccine Can You Use?

Those who received the Sputnik V vaccine can receive their booster shot 3 months after Dose 2.

  • Recommended : Pfizer booster shot
  • Alternative : AstraZeneca booster shot

CanSino Recipients : What Vaccine Can You Use?

Those who received the CanSino vaccine can receive their booster shot 3 months after vaccination.

  • Recommended : Pfizer booster shot
  • Alternative : AstraZeneca or CanSino booster shot

If you are not comfortable with the Pfizer vaccine, please consider the AstraZeneca booster shot, because it is superior to the CanSino booster shot.

Opt for the CanSino booster shot, if you must have a Chinese vaccine.

Janssen Recipients : What Vaccine Can You Use?

Those who received the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine can receive their booster shot 2 months after vaccination.

  • Recommended : Pfizer booster shot
  • Alternative : AstraZeneca booster shot

Who Can Receive It?

On 24 November 2021, the Ministry of Health announced that the COVID-19 booster doses will be available to all individuals 18 years and above.

However, the appointments will be prioritised using the age step down approach, with priority for frontliners, individuals with co-morbidities, pregnant mothers, and those who have to travel overseas.

Is COVID-19 Booster Dose Mandatory?

Like the COVID-19 vaccine, the booster shot is NOT mandatory.

Is It Necessary To Be Fully-Vaccinated?

Yes, for certain vulnerable groups.

On 16 December 2021, the Ministry of Health (KKM) announced that these individuals MUST receive a booster shot by end of February 2022, to be considered as fully-vaccinated.

On 7 February 2022, this was extended to end of March 2022.

  • Individuals who received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine, and
  • Individuals 60 years and older who completed other COVID-19 vaccines,

Those who do not meet these requirements by end of March 2022 will lose their “fully-vaccinated” status in MySejahtera.

They will only regain their fully-vaccinated status once they receive the booster dose.

Read more : Booster Deadline for Seniors + Sinovac Recipients Extended!

Is It A Good Idea To Mix COVID-19 Vaccines?

Yes, studies have shown that it is not only safe to mix COVID-19 vaccines, such heterologous vaccinations will greatly increase your protection against the coronavirus.

Many countries are now giving heterologous booster shots, and the JKJAV expert committee has also recommended to proceed with heterologous vaccinations.

Heterologous vaccination is like learning different martial arts. By learning different ways to handle the coronavirus, your immune system is better able to beat COVID-19.

The Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who was vaccinated with two doses of the Sinovac vaccine, also received a Pfizer heterologous booster shot :

Do We Need To Pay?

Like the COVID-19 vaccine, the booster shot is provided for FREE under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).

How To Apply For COVID-19 Booster Dose?

You do NOT need to apply for the COVID-19 booster dose.

Once you are eligible, you will be given an appointment notification in MySejahtera to go to a GP / government clinic or hospital for your booster dose.

If you do not have MySejahtera, you will be informed by SMS. So please keep an eye out for your appointment!

You can also put yourself on the COVID-19 vaccine standby list at nearby clinics.

Read more : How To Register For The COVID-19 Vaccine Standby List?

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Casual Contact Risk Status In MySejahtera Removed!

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The Casual Contact risk status in MySejahtera has been removed!

Here is what you need to know about this new development!

 

Casual Contact Risk Status : What Is It?

In the past, individuals identified as Casual Contacts of COVID-19 positive persons will get a yellow risk status warning in MySejahtera.

They are also required to undergo daily health assessments using the Health Assessment Tool (HAT) in MySejahtera for 10 days.

While this yellow Casual Contact warning does not prevent them from going into public places, it is certainly alarming to those who receive one.

These Casual Contact risk status became very common recently, partly because of the Omicron surge, and partly because MySJ Trace allows for faster and more accurate contact tracing.

 

Casual Contact Risk Status In MySejahtera Removed!

On 1 March 2021, the Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that the Casual Contact risk status would be removed with immediate effect.

Instead of the yellow Casual Contact risk status warning in MySejahtera, you will receive this notification instead.

MySejahtera automated contact tracing system has identified you as a Casual Contact. If you develop symptoms, please do a self test. You are not subjected to any restrictions but please adhere to SOPs at all times. Stay safe.

Sistem pengesanan kontak automatik MySejahtera telah mengel pasti anda sebagai kontak kassal. Sekiranya anda mengalami gejala, sila lakukan ujian kendiri. Tiada sebarang sekatan dikenakan ke atas anda, tetapi sila sentidas patuhi SOP. Kekal selamat.

You are only required to isolate and get tested if you are symptomatic. Otherwise, there is no need to isolate, or get tested.

Your MySejahtera status will remain as Low Risk No Symptoms in blue. There is also NO LONGER a requirement to perform daily health assessments using the Health Assessment Tool (HAT).

But please note that if your casual contact happened before today, 1 March 2022, you will still get the Yellow risk status warning.

Only those who were identified as a casual contact from 1 March 2022 onwards, will receive the blue Low Risk No Symptoms status.

Please alert your family and friends, so they are aware of these changes!

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Malaysia COVID-19 Test + Isolation Rules : 25 Feb 2022

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The Malaysia Ministry of Health just updated its COVID-19 test and isolation rules to combat the Omicron variant surge!

 

New COVID-19 Testing Rules To Fight Omicron Surge In Malaysia!

On 7 February 2022, Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced new test rules to combat the Omicron variant surge.

  1. Those who are symptomatic should immediately take a COVID-19 test, whether PCR or RAT.
  2. The test result, whether positive or negative, should be reported in MySejahtera.
  3. If you get a positive result on your rapid antigen test (RAT), there is no need to confirm the diagnosis using PCR. The positive RAT test result is good enough.

On 17 February 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) clarified the testing rules for close contacts :

  • If you test negative for COVID-19, you must finish the full quarantine period.
  • If you test positive, you must follow the COVID-19 positive protocol.

On 25 February 2022, KKM updated testing requirements for individuals with Cat 1 and Cat 2A COVID-19.

 

New Isolation + Hospitalisation Rules To Fight Omicron Surge In Malaysia!

Here are also the new rules on home isolation and hospitalisation for people who test positive for COVID-19, as of 25 February 2022.

First, let me clarify some of the terms for COVID-19 positive individuals :

  • Category 1 : patients who are asymptomatic (have no symptoms)
  • Category 2A : patients who have mild symptoms
  • Category 2B : patients who have moderate symptoms
  • Low Risk : patients who are less than 60 years old, and do not have co-morbidities
  • High Risk : patients who are 60 years and above, or have co-morbidities
Category 2A
(Mild Symptoms)
 Category 2B
(Moderate Symptoms)
Sore throat or flu symptoms,
without fever or breathing difficulties		 Prolonged fever for 2 days or more,
or developing a new fever
Cough without fever or
breathing difficulties		 Breathing difficulty during physical activity
(Exertional dyspnoea)
Loss of taste, but with good appetite Chest pain
Loss of smell Loss of appetite
Diarrhoea 1-2 times in 24 hours Feeling tired during daily activities,
or on waking up from sleep
Vomitting or feeling nauseous Need help to walk
Tired, but can perform daily activities Worsening symptoms (cough, nausea,
vomiting, or persistent diarrhoea)
Muscle ache, but can perform daily tasks Declining mental acuity
Reduced urine output in the last 24 hours

COVID-19 Positive (Cat 1, Cat 2A, Low Risk)

  1. You should NOT go to the CAC (COVID-19 Assessment Centre), unless specifically requested through MySejahtera, SMS or a phone call.
  2. You must isolate at home for 7 days if you do not have symptoms (Cat 1), and are fully-vaccinated.
  3. You must isolate at home for 10 days, if you are symptomatic, or are unvaccinated / not fully-vaccinated.
  4. You must perform self-assessment using the Health Assessment Tool (HAT) in the MySejahtera app TWICE a day. Updated!
    a) before 12 PM
    b) before 6 PM
  5. You will receive an SMS or a robocall (Automated Voice Recording) in case you forget to perform the self-assessment.

COVID-19 Positive (Cat 2B and above)

  1. You must go to the CAC (COVID-19 Assessment Centre) for assessment, to determine if you need to go to the nearest hospital. Updated!
  2. Those who are not sent to the hospital must isolate at home for 10 days, and perform self-assessment using the Health Assessment Tool (HAT) in the MySejahtera app. Updated!

Read more : New Quarantine Rules For Close Contact / COVID-19 Positive!

Effective
17 February		 Fully Vaccinated
with / without
Booster Dose		 Unvaccinated or
Partially Vaccinated
Isolation Period 7 Days 10 Days

COVID-19 Positive High-Risk Group (Cat 1 + Cat 2)

On 17 February 2022, KKM announced that the following patients are considered high-risk, and will be hospitalised even if they are Category 1 or Category 2.

  • Have medical co-morbidities – diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension
  • Diagnosed with other non-contagious disease that are uncontrolled / untreated
  • Caretaker of paediatric or geriatric patient
  • Obstetric cases that require monitoring
  • Admissions through the emergency ward
  • Live in homes that are not conducive for self-quarantine
  • Immunocompromised patients (HIV, undergoing chemotherapy)
  • Children who have :
    a) dehydration
    b) prolonged fever and fatigue
    c) chronic disease
    d) no guardian

Close Contact

  1. If you do not have symptoms, there is no need to go to the CAC, or take a COVID-19 test. You will be given a digital HSO (Home Surveillance Order) to isolate at home.
  2. Adults 18 Years & Above
    a) No quarantine for fully-vaccinated individuals with booster dose, without symptoms on Day 1. But must conduct RTK self-test on Day 1 and Day 3, and if positive – report results in MySejahtera, and follow COVID-19 positive protocol
    b) No quarantine for people who were fully-vaccinated, or recovered from COVID-19 in the last 60 days.
    c) 5 days for fully-vaccinated individuals with booster dose, but symptomatic on Day 1.
    d) 5 days for fully-vaccinated individuals without booster dose
    e) 7 days for unvaccinated / not fully-vaccinated individuals
  3. If you have symptoms, you must immediately self test for COVID-19.
    a) the test result must be reported in the MySejahtera app.
    b) you must conduct daily self-assessment using the Health Assessment Tool (HAT) in the MySejahtera app.
    c) if test is positive, you must follow COVID-19 positive protocol. See above.
    d) if test is negative, you must finish the full quarantine period

Read more : New Quarantine Rules For Close Contact / COVID-19 Positive!

Effective
1 March 2022		 On Day 1 Quarantine
Period
 Testing
Fully-Vaccinated
+ Booster Dose		 No symptoms None RTK-Ag self-test
on Day 1 + 3
Symptomatic 5 Days RTK-Ag self-test
if symptomatic
Recovered in last 60 days None
Fully Vaccinated Asymptomatic / Symptomatic 5 Days *
Recovered in last 60 days None
Incomplete or
No
Vaccination 		Asymptomatic / Symptomatic 7 Days *

* No test is required to be released from quarantine, if not symptomatic. However, you must complete the full quarantine period.

 

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Nurse Caught Emptying Vaccine Syringe For YB KJ’s Son?!

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Was a nurse caught emptying the COVID-19 vaccine syringe for Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s son?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : Nurse Caught Emptying Vaccine Syringe For YB KJ’s Son!

People are sharing this message and a TikTok video, which they claim is proof that a nurse was caught emptying the COVID-19 vaccine syringe, to fake an injection of Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s son.

She tried to hide the syringe between the boy and the table when emptying the syringe but was caught in action by the cameraman!

At 0.38 sec we see a repeated emptying of the syringe.

Within 2 secs of the video, she emptied the syringe by shooting the liquid down towards the floor just before pretending to inject the vaccine.

This is how KJ’s son got “vaccinated”. Bastards are conning the public into forced mass vaccination while they secretly protect themselves and their own kids and make policies on Covid for others. If Covid vaccine is so safe, why this scandal? It shows that the vaccine and booster campaign is simply for the politicians to profit.

This raises the question if politicians and their families were really vaccinated?

Khairy should resign immediately and the vaccination of kids stopped pending a full investigation on the safety of vaccine.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Khairy-Jamaluddin-sons-COVID-19-vaccination-edited.mp4?_=1

 

Truth : Nurse Did NOT Empty Vaccine Syringe For YB KJ’s Son!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS being created and circulated by antivaxxers and people who really should know better…

Here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : The Nurse Was Distracting The Boy

When the video went viral, the Malaysia Ministry of Health released a video of the nurse explaining what she did.

As an experienced nurse vaccinating children, she is aware that they may get anxious on seeing the needle, so she explained that she would hide the needle from their view.

She would then distract them by asking them to count one to ten, and wait until they are calm and not moving, before injecting them with the vaccine.

That was why she appeared to be putting the syringe under the table. But if you watch the unedited video below, you will see that it was placed there so her other hand would block the boy from seeing the needle.

Fact #2 : The Syringe Plunger Was Never Pushed

The fake news creator intentionally zoomed in to focus on the needle for two reasons :

  • the blurry video made the needle look like a stream of liquid
  • to avoid you noticing that the plunger was never pushed

The nurse also pointed out in her video that the white plunger is clearly visible in the unedited video, and it is impossible for any vaccine to be ejected without pushing the syringe plunger.

Here is the original unedited video. Watch from around the 0:54 mark. You can clearly see that :

  • what looked like a stream of liquid in the blurry video was just the needle of the syringe
  • she never pushed the plunger, until after she inserted the needle into the boy’s arm.
https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Khairy-Jamaluddin-sons-COVID-19-vaccination-original.mp4?_=2

Fact #3 : The Syringe Was Not Repeatedly Emptied

The fake news claims that the nurse repeatedly emptied the syringe, suggesting that there was nothing in it. That’s nonsense.

The COVID-19 vaccine is injected intramuscularly. To confirm that the needle is indeed going into the muscle and not a vein, the nurse has to withdraw the plunger to see if any blood goes into the syringe.

Only after she sees that no blood is withdrawn into the syringe, does she push the plunger to inject the vaccine into the deltoid muscle.

Fact #4 : The Cameraman Was Khairy Jamaluddin Himself

The fake news creator removed the original audio in the edited video, so he/she could claim that the nurse was “caught in action by the cameraman“.

The truth is – the cameraman was the Health Minister himself, Khairy Jamaluddin.

If you watch the original video, you can hear his voice saying, “Count to ten, okay? Finish, finish, finish!”

Fact #5 : COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids Proven Safe + Effective

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year-old children have been proven safe and effective.

It uses the same mRNA vaccine that has been successfully used in BILLIONS of adults and adolescents, just at 1/3 the dose.

In addition, more than 8 million doses of this paediatric vaccine had already been safely administered in the United States, before it was introduced in Malaysia.

Let me speak plainly – the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids is safe and effective. That is why I vaccinated my two younger children on the very first day the vaccination centre opened!

Read more : Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids : What You Need To Know!
Read more : What To Do Before, During, After COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids!

The only scandal here is how antivaxxers continue to put our children’s lives at risk by creating such fake news and lying about COVID-19 vaccines.

Stop believing in these fake news, and vaccinate your loved ones against COVID-19.

 

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Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Malaysia HCW Close Contacts No Longer Required To Isolate!

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Healthcare workers in Malaysia will no longer be required to isolate themselves on being identified as close contacts!

Here is what you need to know…

 

Malaysia HCW Close Contacts No Longer Required To Isolate!

On 17 February 2022, Malaysia Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin announced a change in the Close Contact policy for healthcare workers in Malaysia.

Due to the Omicron surge occurring now, many people are being identified as a close contact of COVID-19 patients every day. This causes huge disruptions to the economy and management of human resources.

The Malaysia Ministry of Health has now issued a circular, introducing a new protocol for healthcare workers.

Healthcare workers in Malaysia will no longer be required to isolate once they are identified as a close contact, if they are not symptomatic. Instead, they will undergo COVID-19 tests on certain days.

This new protocol will apply to healthcare workers in both public and private sectors. If it works well, it may eventually be implemented for everyone else in Malaysia.

 

Why Are HCW Close Contacts No Longer Required To Isolate?

The current self-quarantine period for fully-vaccinated healthcare workers are 5-7 days, depending on whether they received their booster dose.

As it is very easy to become a close contact during this Omicron wave, too many healthcare workers will end up in isolation and detrimentally affect the healthcare system’s ability to handle the surge of patients.

The new protocol will ensure that healthcare workers are not unnecessarily stuck in self-isolation, simply because they come into close contact with a COVID-19 patient.

For those on the frontline – that is literally what they do every day – come into close contact with COVID-19 patients that they treat.

Read more : New Quarantine Rules For Close Contact / COVID-19 Positive!

 

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Malaysia To Change Mindset By Delaying COVID-19 Report!

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Malaysia will try to change people’s mindset by delaying the daily COVID-19 report!

Here is what you need to know…

 

Malaysia To Change Mindset By Delaying COVID-19 Report!

On 17 February 2022, Malaysia Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin announced a delay in the daily report of new COVID-19 cases.

Instead of being released in the afternoon / evening every day, the daily report of new COVID-19 cases will be released at 10 AM the next day, together with other data like :

  • hospitalisation and ICU usage
  • category breakdowns
  • deaths
  • immunisation rates

This change will start on Friday, 18 February 2022, with the report being released on Saturday, 19 February 2022.

He said that this decision was made to change people’s mindset, and shift them away from the fear factor of 20K, 30K new cases, and consider the situation in its entirety.

He also pointed out that this move was being adopted by other countries like Singapore, which releases its data at midnight.

 

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How To Walk-In For Free Sinovac Booster At Offsite PPV!

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Find out how to walk-in for your free Sinovac booster dose at any Offsite PPV nationwide!

Here is what you need to know!

 

Free Sinovac Booster Dose At PPV?

On 7 February 2022, Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin shared that 3.5 million people who were fully-vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine still have not received their booster dose.

To encourage them to get their booster dose, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) will offer Sinovac recipients the option of a Sinovac booster dose.

KKM however strongly recommends that Sinovac recipients receive either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca booster dose, because they offer much better protection.

Read more : ALL Seniors + Sinovac Recipients MUST Get Booster Dose!

 

How To Walk-In For Free Sinovac Booster At Offsite PPV!

On 12 February 2022, ProtectHealth Corporation announced that they will make the Sinovac booster dose available for FREE at all Offsite PPVs under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).

Starting Monday, 14 February 2022, you can walk-in for your Sinovac booster dose at any Offsite PPV in Malaysia.

You can look for the nearest Offsite PPV using the ProtectHealth Vaccination Centre search feature.

All individuals who walk-in for the booster dose must ensure that they have a proper digital COVID-19 vaccine certificate in MySejahtera before going to the PPV.

Those who do not have a digital COVID-19 vaccine certificate because they do not have a smartphone, can bring their physical vaccination card to the PPV.

Here is the official checklist of what you need to do BEFORE going to get your COVID-19 booster dose at the PPV :

  1. Get enough sleep
  2. Eat breakfast or lunch before going to the PPV
  3. Be in good health, with no symptoms
  4. Wear suitable and comfortable clothes
  5. Wear a face mask
  6. Bring your identity card / document (e.g. passport)
  7. Bring your vaccination card as proof of completed primary vaccination, if you don’t have MySejahtera
  8. Make sure you are not required to be under quarantine!

Read more : What Should You Do Before / During / After Booster Dose?

 

Should You Get Sinovac Booster Dose At PPV?

Now that KKM is offering the Sinovac vaccine booster dose for free, should you get it? That very much depends on a number of factors.

Read more :

Are You Allergic To The Pfizer Vaccine?

If you are allergic to the Pfizer vaccine, then you definitely cannot receive a booster dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

You will have to get a booster dose of other vaccine types – viral vector vaccines like AstraZeneca or Sputnik V, or inactivated virus vaccines like Sinovac or Sinopharm.

But with so many better vaccine options available out there, Sinovac CoronaVac should be your last choice, not your first.

Are There Better Options?

If you are given the option to switch to Pfizer or AstraZeneca, you should definitely opt for either one over the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine.

Of all the WHO approved vaccines, Sinovac CoronaVac is the least efficacious COVID-19 vaccine, offering just over 50% efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19.

And that was before it was tested against the Delta or Omicron variants. Studies have shown that two doses of Sinovac offered less protection against Delta, and no protection against Omicron.

Read more : Pfizer / Sinovac vs. Omicron : What HKU Study Just Revealed!

COVID-19
Variant		 Seropositive Rate
Pfizer Sinovac
Alpha 100% 100%
Beta 100% 0%
Delta 100% 68%
Omicron 20% – 24% 0%

Must You Get A Chinese Vaccine?

The popularity of Chinese vaccines is partly due to Chinese propaganda, and partly because China offers travel advantages for people vaccinated with Sinovac or Sinopharm vaccines.

People who need to travel to China are still FORCED to pay for Sinovac / Sinopharm vaccines to avoid additional PCR tests.

So here is my advice. If you have to travel to China, opt for the Sinopharm vaccine. It is not only cheaper than Sinovac, it is a far better COVID-19 vaccine!

Vaccine Ancestral Delta Variant Omicron Variant
Infection Severe
Disease		 Infection Severe
Disease		 Infection Severe
Disease
Sinopharm COVILO 68% 73% 67% 71% 35% 53%
Sinovac CoronaVac 47% 50% 46% 49% 24% 37%

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Did Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Reject Booster Dose?

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Did Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin reject taking the COVID-19 booster dose?

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Rejects Booster Dose!

People are sharing a TikTok video by @wakproton showing Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin saying that he doesn’t need the COVID-19 booster shot.

The text in the video said, “Hahahaha… KJ pun tolak BOOSTER!“, which in English meant “Hahahaha… KJ also rejected the booster!”

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Did-KJ-Reject-Booster-Dose.mp4?_=3

Here is my translated transcript for context :

I took Sinovac quite late, so I don’t need the booster yet. But this is a serious answer – the booster is only offered to people who should have it.

I’m young, I do not have co-morbidities at the moment, so I should not be taking a booster because I would be taking a vaccine from somebody else.

So the booster dose should be given to people who, according to experts, can be given the booster – people who are 60 years and older, those with co-morbidities, those who are immunocompromised. The boosters are for those people, not healthy people right now.

We are not recommending boosters for healthy people right now. It’s just for certain groups that we are giving the booster dose.

 

Truth : Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Did Not Reject Booster Dose

This is yet another example of anti-vaccination fake news created by misrepresenting statements from the past.

Fact #1 : This Video Was From 20 September 2021

First, I need to point out that this video was taken at a press conference on 20 September 2021 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport – more than 4 months ago!

It was FALSELY shared as a new video, to trick people into believing that the Health Minister was rejecting the booster dose.

The TikTok video creator, @wakproton used this old video to intentionally mislead you.

Fact #2 : Booster Doses Limited To High-Risk Groups At That Time

Back in September 2021, vaccine supply was still limited, and studies show that fully-vaccinated people still had good protection against COVID-19.

Hence, the priority was to give at least 80% of the adult population the chance the get the primary series of the vaccine first. Then, the booster dose would be given to a priority group who are most at risk :

  • frontliners
  • individuals 60 years and older
  • individuals with co-morbidities
  • immunocompromised individuals

This was the same order of priority that was adopted when Malaysia started the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Read more : COVID-19 Booster Dose Policy For Malaysia

Fact #3 : Khairy Jamaluddin Received His Booster Dose On 29 October 2021

Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin received his COVID-19 booster dose on 29 October 2021.

He received a Pfizer booster dose, to complement his two Sinovac vaccine doses taken earlier, to demonstrate that heterologous vaccination (mixing of vaccines) is safe and effective.

So the claim that he rejected the booster dose is utter nonsense.

Fact #4 : Booster Shot Recommended For All Adults

After the a month and half of giving the booster shot to the priority group, the government recommended the booster dose for all individuals 40 years and older on 9 November 2021.

That was then expanded to all individuals 18 years and older on 24 November 2021 – the same day South Africa reported the discovery of the Omicron variant to the WHO.

Since then, the Malaysia Health Ministry (KKM) and Khairy Jamaluddin have been actively encouraging people to get the COVID-19 booster dose.

Fact #5 : Booster Shot Helps Protect Against Variants

KKM has strongly recommended the booster shot, to protect against the Delta and Omicron variants, after the recent RECoVaM study showed the waning protection of COVID-19 vaccines.

They were also concerned about the latest data on the Omicron variant, which showed greater transmissibility, higher viral binding affinity and higher antibody escape.

Evidence showed that a booster shot can increase protection against the Omicron variant. And early research involving 21 million booster doses in the UK showed that they are safe.

In line with those results, regulatory bodies in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia as well as panels of health experts now recommend that the booster dose vaccination should be given as early as three (3) months after completing the primary vaccine.

Read more : Pfizer vs. Sinovac : Which Is Better Against Omicron Variant?

Now that you know the truth, please SHARE this fact check with your family and friends.

Antivaxxers do NOT care about your lives. Ignore them, and protect yourself and your family against COVID-19!

 

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Did Health Minister KJ Recommend AGAINST Booster Shot?

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Did Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin recommend AGAINST healthy people getting the COVID-19 booster shot?

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : Health Minister KJ Recommends AGAINST Booster Shot!

People are sharing a Malaysia Gazette video showing Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin saying that health people should not get the COVID-19 booster shot.

It’s often shared with this warning – Khairy said the booster is NOT recommended for healthy people!!

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Khairy-Jamaluddin-Booster-Dose-Not-Recommended-For-Healthy-People.mp4?_=4

Here is my translated transcript for context :

Oh, there has not been any decision yet. But looking at the first person to get the vaccine – the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia, I have to ask Tan Sri Muhyiddin if he wants to get the booster (dose).

I took Sinovac quite late, so I don’t need the booster yet. But this is a serious answer – the booster is only offered to people who should have it.

I’m young, I do not have co-morbidities at the moment, so I should not be taking a booster because I would be taking a vaccine from somebody else.

So the booster dose should be given to people who, according to experts, can be given the booster – people who are 60 years and older, those with co-morbidities, those who are immunocompromised. The boosters are for those people, not healthy people right now.

We are not recommending boosters for healthy people right now. It’s just for certain groups that we are giving the booster dose.

 

Truth : Health Minister KJ Booster Shot Video Taken Out Of Context

This is yet another example of anti-vaccination fake news created by misrepresenting statements from the past.

Fact #1 : This Video Was From 20 September 2021

First, I need to point out that this video was taken at a press conference on 20 September 2021 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport – more than 4 months ago!

It was FALSELY shared as a new video, to trick people into believing that the Health Minister was telling people not to take the booster dose.

The fake news creator used this old video to intentionally mislead you.

Fact #2 : Booster Doses Limited To High-Risk Groups At That Time

Just a day prior to the video – Prime Minister Ismail Sabri, announced that Malaysia will start administering the COVID-19 booster dose, after the nationwide vaccination rate exceeds 80% of the adult population.

At that time, vaccine supply was still limited, and studies show that fully-vaccinated people still had good protection against COVID-19.

Hence, the priority was to give at least 80% of the adult population the chance the get the primary series of the vaccine first. Then, the booster dose would be given to a priority group who are most at risk :

  • frontliners
  • individuals 60 years and older
  • individuals with co-morbidities
  • immunocompromised individuals

This was the same order of priority that was adopted when Malaysia started the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Read more : COVID-19 Booster Dose Policy For Malaysia

Fact #3 : Khairy Jamaluddin Received His Booster Dose On 29 October 2021

Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin received his COVID-19 booster dose on 29 October 2021.

He received a Pfizer booster dose, to complement his two Sinovac vaccine doses taken earlier, to demonstrate that heterologous vaccination (mixing of vaccines) is safe and effective.

So the claim that he rejected the booster dose is utter nonsense.

Fact #4 : Booster Shot Recommended For All Adults

After the a month and half of giving the booster shot to the priority group, the government recommended the booster dose for all individuals 40 years and older on 9 November 2021.

That was then expanded to all individuals 18 years and older on 24 November 2021 – the same day South Africa reported the discovery of the Omicron variant to the WHO.

Since then, the Malaysia Health Ministry (KKM) and Khairy Jamaluddin have been actively encouraging people to get the COVID-19 booster dose.

Fact #5 : Booster Shot Helps Protect Against Variants

KKM has strongly recommended the booster shot, to protect against the Delta and Omicron variants, after the recent RECoVaM study showed the waning protection of COVID-19 vaccines.

They were also concerned about the latest data on the Omicron variant, which showed greater transmissibility, higher viral binding affinity and higher antibody escape.

Evidence showed that a booster shot can increase protection against the Omicron variant. And early research involving 21 million booster doses in the UK showed that they are safe.

In line with those results, regulatory bodies in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia as well as panels of health experts now recommend that the booster dose vaccination should be given as early as three (3) months after completing the primary vaccine.

Read more : Pfizer vs. Sinovac : Which Is Better Against Omicron Variant?

Now that you know the truth, please SHARE this fact check with your family and friends.

Antivaxxers do NOT care about your lives. Ignore them, and protect yourself and your family against COVID-19!

 

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Did Malaysia Health DG Admit Vaccines Cause Myocarditis?

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Did the Malaysia DG of Health confirm that COVID-19 vaccine recipients are getting myocarditis?

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Did Malaysia Health DG Hisham Admit Risk Of Vaccine Myocarditis?

A Malaysian website called Samudera has been promoting their article on WhatsApp and Telegram, which warns readers that Malaysia DG of Health, Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, admitted that vaccine recipients are getting myocarditis.

This was the message they sent out on Telegram and WhatsApp (with our English translation in italics) :

Confirmed!! DG Hisham Sahkan Kes Radang Jantung Pada Penerima Vaksin

Confirmed!! DG Hisham Confirms Myocarditis In Vaccine Recipients

56% kes Radang Jantung dari penerima Pfizer!!

56% of myocarditis cases from Pfizer recipients!!

Lepas tu KJ nak suruh kita ambil & suntik anak2 kita pula??

And KJ (Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin) asked us to get the vaccine, and inject our kids too?

Anak dia bila nak suntik??

When will he inject his own children??

The message includes links to their article, and Telegram channel, both of which I removed because they are misleading.

For context, here is my English translation of what Samudera wrote in their article :

Director-General of Health, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah revealed that 56% of myocarditis detected was related to the Pfizer vaccine, 36% related to Sinovac and 8% related to AstraZeneca.

According to him, at least 25 cases of myocarditis was detected within 3 weeks of receiving the COVID-19 vaccinations.

This admission by the Director-General of Health himself indirectly increases the concerns of some Malaysians towards vaccines, especially those using the mRNA technology.

In addition to warnings by American health authorities, the WHO also reported on the potential relationship between mRNA vaccines and myocarditis.

 

Truth : Vaccine Myocarditis Risk In Malaysia Less Than 1 In Million!

Samudera intentionally twisted Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah’s words, to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous.

That’s misleading and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Vaccine Myocarditis Risk Less Than 1 In Million!

The results that Samudera quoted is correct, but appears to be intentionally stripped of context.

Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah was speaking about the new SAFECOVAC study, which looked at the risk of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination in Malaysia.

It is true that 25 myocarditis events were observed within 21 days of COVID-19 vaccination, but that was after 33 million doses were administered in Malaysia!

In other words, the vaccine myocarditis risk in Malaysia was less than 1 in a million doses!

Read more : Vaccine Myocarditis Risk Less Than 1 In Million!

Fact #2 : Vaccine Myocarditis Risk Only Slightly Higher With mRNA Vaccines

Samudera curiously ignored the incidence data, and only tells their readers that 56% of vaccine myocarditis cases in Malaysia are related to the Pfizer vaccine.

That’s the wrong way to look at the risk, because it automatically goes up the more you use a particular vaccine, and a majority of vaccine recipients received the Pfizer vaccine.

The correct way is to look at the incidence rate per million doses, which shows that the vaccine myocarditis risk of the Pfizer vaccine is only slightly higher than that of the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines.

Age Groups Myocarditis Events
(Per Million Doses)
Pfizer AstraZeneca Sinovac
Overall 0.9 0.7 0.5
Over 30 Years 1.0 NA 0.6
30 Years + Younger 0.87 NA 0.49

Fact #3 : Myocarditis Risk From COVID-19 Is Much Higher!

What Samudera and other anti-vaccination websites / activists don’t tell you is that – COVID-19 patients suffer from myocarditis too!

In fact, the risk of getting myocarditis from a COVID-19 infection is much, MUCH higher than the risk of getting myocarditis from COVID-19 vaccination.

Using the new SAFECOVAC data, I extrapolated the risk of getting THREE DOSES of COVID-19 vaccines against the risk of a single COVID-19 infection :

Look at the results! If you are worried about myocarditis, you should definitely want to AVOID getting infected with COVID-19.

Myocarditis
Risk		 Per Million
People		 vs
Sinovac 		vs
AstraZeneca 		vs
Pfizer
COVID-19 450 +300x +214x +167x
3x Pfizer 2.7 +1.8x +1.3x Baseline
3x AstraZeneca 2.1 +1.4x Baseline -0.2x
3x Sinovac 1.5 Baseline -0.3x -0.4x

Fact #4 : Vaccine Myocarditis Generally Mild

Myocarditis from COVID-19 vaccination is generally mild, and patients respond well to medication and rest.

We just need to be cognisant about the symptoms, and seek medical attention when we notice them :

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Feelings of a fast-beating or pounding heart

Fact #5 : CDC Recommends COVID-19 Vaccination

Samudera insinuated that US health authorities are warning people about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines.

The truth is – the US CDC not only recommends that adults get vaccinated, they also advise that children as young as 5 years old should get vaccinated against COVID-19.

CDC continues to recommend that everyone ages 5 years and older get vaccinated for COVID-19.

The known risks of COVID-19 illness and its related, possibly severe complications, such as long-term health problems, hospitalization, and even death, far outweigh the potential risks of having a rare adverse reaction to vaccination, including the possible risk of myocarditis or pericarditis.

Fact #6 : WHO Recommends COVID-19 Vaccination

Samudera also insinuated that the World Health Organization (WHO) are warning people about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines.

The truth is – the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) looked at the issue, and acknowledged the clear benefits off the mRNA vaccines in reduce deaths and hospitalisations due to COVID-19 infections.

They also pointed out that “myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination is generally mild and responds to conservative treatment (e.g. rest, treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs etc)“.

Now that you know the facts, please SHARE this fact check, and WARN your family and friends about the fake viral message, and the Samudera website.

 

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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COVID-19 Vaccine Programme For Kids : Details Announced!

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The Malaysia Ministry of Health just announced details of the COVID-19 vaccine programme for kids 5 to 11 years in age.

Here is what you need to know!

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Programme For Kids : Details Announced!

On 20 January 2022, the Malaysia Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, announced details of PICKids – the COVID-19 vaccine programme for kids 5 to 11 years in age.

Special Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids To Be Used

A special Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids will be used to vaccinate children 5 to 11 years in age.

This paediatric dose comes in a new 10-dose vial with an orange cap, which will be diluted with 1.3 ml of water.

Each dose is smaller at only 0.2 ml, and contains only 10 micrograms (mcg) of the vaccine – 1/3 of the dose used in adults.

Read more : Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids : What You Need To Know!

Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Arrives End Of January 2022

According to the Health Minister, the first batch of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses for kids will arrive in Malaysia on 31 January 2022.

COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Programme Starts In February 2022

The COVID-19 vaccine for kids programme (PICKids) will officially kick off on 3 February 2022 at the Tunku Azizah Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

However, it will only start in earnest from 22 February 2022 onwards.

COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Not Mandatory

The COVID-19 vaccine for kids is not mandatory, just like how the vaccination programme for adults and adolescents are also not mandatory.

Parents Can Start Registering Their Kids

Parents can start registering their kids for the COVID-19 vaccine programme using the MySejahtera app.

Parents will be allowed to book appointments for their kids’ vaccinations starting 31 January 2022, with priority given to families living in the Klang Valley.

Read more : How To Register Children For Vaccine In MySejahtera!

90% Efficacious

Even though the paediatric dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is only ⅓ that of the adult dose, it was shown to be 90.7% efficacious in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection.

Fewer Side Effects

The lower paediatric dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine naturally produced fewer side effects, with no severe side effects noted.

After almost 8.7 million doses of the paediatric vaccine were administered in the United States, the number of AEFI incidents were far lower than that of teenagers 12-17 years of age who were vaccinated with the full adult dose.

Longer Dose Interval

The Malaysia Ministry of Health will use a longer 8-week dose interval for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids.

This will increase the immune response and has the potential to increase the longevity of the vaccine’s protection, as well reduce the risk of vaccine myocarditis.

Read more : Vaccine Myocarditis Risk Less Than 1 In Million!

 

You Should Sign Your Kids Up For COVID-19 Vaccine?

You may be wondering whether you should actually sign up your kids for the COVID-19 vaccine. After all, social media is rife with scary stories about vaccine side effects.

The truth is – all approved COVID-19 vaccines have not only been proven to be safe and effective in massive clinical trials, they have also been proven to be safe and effective after BILLIONS of doses were administered.

And why not? Vaccines are nothing more than self-defence classes for our immune system.

All they do is teach your children’s own immune system to identify the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and learn how to make antibodies against it so that they have a better chance of defending themselves against a real COVID-19 infection.

Over 8 million doses of the new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids have also been successfully and safely administered in the United States. So yes, it is SAFE and EFFECTIVE.

People may tell you that kids do not get COVID-19, or they suffer only mild symptoms. That’s not really true.

In Malaysia, 579,624 children (less than 18 years old) were infected with COVID-19 in the last two years!

  • 269,773 (46.5%) of them were children 5 to 11 years in age.
  • 144 children (less than 18 years old) died from COVID-19.
  • 31 children 5 to 11 years in age died from COVID-19.

On top of that, children infected with COVID-19 are at risk of developing serious complications like Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) or long COVID.

So don’t believe naysayers when they tell you that your child will be safe from COVID-19. Not only have children died from COVID-19, others had to be hospitalised, and/or suffer from long COVID symptoms long after they recover.

Please remember – it’s YOUR CHILD, not theirs, that they are putting at risk with such misinformation.

Protect your children. Vaccinate them against COVID-19.

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Malaysia Approves Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine For Children!

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Malaysia has officially approved two Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine formulations for children!

Here is what you need to know!

 

Malaysia Approves Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine For Children!

On 29 October 2021, the US FDA officially authorised the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in 5-11 year-old children.

The Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin immediately said that Malaysia will proceed to procure the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children.

On 6 January 2021, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) announced that the Drug Control Authority (DCA) has agreed to conditionally approve these two Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine formulations for children :

  1. COMIRNATY 10mcg Concentrate for Dispersion for Injection
    This is COMIRNATY vaccine for children 5 to 11 years in age. This formulation has a lower dosage, compared to the COMIRNATY vaccine given to individuals 12 years and older.
  2. COMIRNATY (Tris/Sucrose) 30mcg Solution for Injection
    This is the COMIRNATY vaccine with a new formulation that does not require dilution before administration, and has a longer lifespan of 10 weeks (compared to the current formulation at 1 month), when storage at between 2 ºC and 8 ºC after defrosting.
    This formulation is for the COVID-19 immunisation of individuals who are 12 years and older.

Note : Tris / Tromethamine is used in both new formulations, for longer storage at normal fridge temperatures. The second formulation is used for adults, as well as children 12 years and older.

Read more : Did Pfizer Add Heart Attack Drug To COVID Vaccine For Kids?

 

Pfizer Vaccine For 5-11 Yo Kids In Malaysia : Should You Take It?

The Pfizer paediatric vaccine for 5-11 year old children uses a much lower dose of the vaccine – just 10 micrograms – ⅓ of the dose used for adults and adolescents, but continues to use the same 21-day dose interval.

It was shown in a Pfizer study involving over 2,200 children, to be both very safe and 90.7% efficacious in preventing COVID-19 infections.

Read more : Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids : What You Need To Know!

 

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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