Vaccine demand in Malaysia rises amid regional surge in Covid 19 cases

GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia – Medical practitioners are seeing a renewed interest in vaccination and booster shots, particularly among vulnerable populations, amid a concerning surge in Covid-19 cases in neighbouring countries.

Dr Parmjit Singh said the revived interest is due to locals being highly vigilant given the rising numbers of a new variant of Covid-19 in Thailand and Singapore.

“It is essential for eligible indivi­duals to be up to date with their vaccinations to maintain strong protection, especially against emerging variants,” he said here on June 11.

The general practitioner pointed out that while the Covid-19 situation in the country may appear stable, it has not been eradicated.

“Malaysians are encouraged to... practise good hygiene, wear masks in crowded or enclosed spaces and seek medical attention if symptoms develop.

“Continued public awareness and responsible behaviour are key to preventing another surge in cases. New variants may spread across borders through travel and community interactions.”

Dr Parmjit added that there is no definitive evidence that dry weather can cause a spike in Covid-19 cases.

“Weather changes can influen­ce human behaviour. People may spend more time indoors in air-conditioned spaces during hot and dry seasons, which could increase the risk of virus transmission.

“The spread of the virus is dependent on factors such as popu­lation density, vaccination coverage, public health measures and individual behaviour,” he said.

Penang Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi said the state experienced notable spikes during major holidays or festive periods due to increased travel, relaxed precautions and social gatherings.

“While there is no evidence that dry weather increases Covid-19 transmission, in Malaysia, hot and dry conditions may lead to more indoor gatherings. This could facilitate virus spread,” he said.

It was reported that neighbou­ring countries like Thailand and Singapore are facing an emergence of subvariants derived from the