‘VITAL TO GET SECOND JAB ON TIME’
Any delay in getting second shot can affect production of antibodies, says Health D-G
THE Pfizer-BioNTechmanufactured vaccine, Comirnaty (Concentrate for Dispersion for Injection), requires two doses to produce long-lasting immunity against the coronavirus in the recipient’s body.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a statement yesterday, said a delay in getting the second jab could delay the optimum production
of antibodies.
“The efficiency rate of Comirnaty vaccine was reported as 94.6 per cent in preventing SARSCoV-2 infections based on the third phase of the clinical trial, in
which two vaccine doses are administered at an interval of 21 days (the permitted time interval is up to 42 days).
“However, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation
from the World Health Organisation has advised that the second dose be administered within 21 to 28 days of the first dose.
“Based on clinical trial observations, the Comirnaty vaccine started demonstrating effectiveness from Day 12 after the first dose was administered and achieved 89 per cent effectiveness between Day 14 and Day 21, which is the period when the second dose is injected.
“However, the long-term effectiveness of a single dose of the Comirnaty vaccine remains unknown because recipients in the clinical trial received two vaccine shots between 19 and 42 days.
“Therefore, it is important to note that a significant increase in antibodies can provide long-term effectiveness after an individual receives the second dose.”
Dr Noor Hisham also gave an assurance that the ministry was conducting regular monitoring on the vaccines that are used in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme through the quality product monitoring programme and pharmacovigilance to guarantee the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccines.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said a total of 346,508 people had received the first dose of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine under the first phase of the NIP up to Tuesday.
Selangor recorded the highest number of vaccinations with 41,913 people, followed by Perak (39,404), Sabah (33,966) and Sarawak (32,465).
In Kuala Lumpur, 31,740 people have received the first dose, followed by Johor (26,185), Pahang (25,944), Kedah (23,871), Penang (20,393), Kelantan (16,541) and Terengganu (15,725).
As for Negri Sembilan, the figure was 14,489 people, Melaka (9,120), Perlis (8,038), Putrajaya (4,383) and Labuan (2,342).