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This Oct 2 file pic shows the public wearing face mask in KL Sentral amid the Covid-19 pandemic. - NSTP/AIZUDDIN SAAD

KUALA LUMPUR: Experts have cautioned Malaysians that the impending availability of the Covid-19 vaccine does not necessarily mean the pandemic is drawing to a close anytime soon. They said the public would still have to abide by the new norms, such as physical distancing and wearing face masks, while the government worked towards ensuring that the majority of the population got vaccinated. Malaysian Public Health Physicians' Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar lauded the government's effort to obtain Covid-19 vaccines, describing it as a good and fast initiative for the wellbeing of the people, but added that it would take "months or years" to ensure the rest of the population secured immunity. He said for the pandemic to end, the coverage of immunised persons through herd immunity and vaccination must be more than 80 per cent.

"In the early phase of vaccination, the coverage is just 20 per cent of the population. "Therefore, it will take a longer time to stop the pandemic, maybe between three and four years, unless we can improve the coverage of vaccination." Epidemiology and biostatistics expert Dr Malina Osman said Malaysia needed to vaccinate at least 40 to 50 per cent of the population to build immunity against Covid-19, assuming a certain portion of the population develop antibodies from the infection. On how quickly the Covid-19 vaccine can stop the pandemic, Dr Malina, an associate professor at Universiti Putra Malaysia, said theoretically, the protection would be provided once antibodies were produced. "In the usual immune response, once vaccinated, the immune system of the individual will respond immediately by producing specific mechanisms to both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. "However, adequate protective antibodies are usually achieved after a few weeks to a month. The immunity is usually sustained for a few months before the antibody produced starts declining. "Therefore, another shot of the vaccine is needed to boost the immune system's memory to increase the antibody level." She said people should maintain preventive measures for at least a month post-vaccination. The Malaysian Medical Association lauded the government's swift efforts to secure Covid-19 vaccines for the country. "As safety and proven efficacy of the vaccines are of paramount concern, we also appreciate the assurance given by the prime minister that the vaccines will go through stringent conditions set by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency before they are approved for use," said its president, Professor Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy. He said the association looked forward to seeing regular updates on any new developments from the relevant ministries concerning the vaccines. "It is hoped the government will soon reveal the full list of vulnerable groups that will be prioritised for the vaccines and further details of its programme to vaccinate the population."

Tarikh Input: 30/11/2020 | Kemaskini: 02/12/2020 | amirahhani