KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is no longer using the conventional formula of achieving at least 80 per cent herd immunity among the country's adult population in curbing the spread of COVID-19.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the world's health experts had now stopped using this formula and were instead focusing on vaccinating as many people possible as the outbreak of the Delta variant of the virus resulted in the herd immunity targeted to exceed 80 per cent.
"I, as Health Minister, am no longer using the herd immunity term. When we started the vaccination programme, we used the conventional formula to measure the herd immunity which was 80 per cent (of the adult population).
"That was before the spread of the Delta variant. This variant had basically thrown out the herd immunity calculation and it's difficult to say when we will achieve herd immunity. That is why we should no longer be looking at herd immunity.
"Instead, we should be looking at the widest vaccination possible," Khairy said when winding up the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address at the Dewan Rakyat sitting, here, today.
He was responding to Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) who had asked why the infections and fatalities from COVID-19 in Malaysia were rising despite the vaccination rate of its adult population having reached more than 80 per cent.
Last Tueday, Malaysia achieved 80 per cent full vaccination of its adult population, earlier than scheduled through the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) implemented since Feb 24 in curbing the spread of COVID-19.
Hence, Khairy said PICK which was being actively carried out on teenagers aged 12 to 17 years while for children, the MOH was waiting for the Pfizer vaccine tests report first.
He said although currently, the number of COVID-19 cases was still high but based on the important indicators, it had started showing a downward trend and giving hope to the country's recovery process.
"Compared to the situation a month ago, which was on Aug 23, the bed usage involved 14,942 cases but today, the number has dropped to 10,321.
"The need for the intensive care units involved 1,542 cases but today, the number has declined to 1,114. On average, there were 251 cases over a seven-day period in August but the figure has dropped to 106.
"Of the current active cases recorded, 83 per cent are in categories 1 and 2 who only require quarantine at home; 10.7 per cent sent to the Low-Risk COVID-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centres (PKRC); 5.1 per cent admitted to the hospitals and 0.5 per cent requiring ventilators and intensive treatment," he said.
Khairy said in controlling the spread of COVID-19 within the country so as to avoid an uncontrollable situation, the MOH would continue strengthening the public health strategies in flattening the curve of infection and breaking the virus transmission through the Find, Test, Trace, Isolate and Support (FTTIS) plan.
He said the ministry with the cooperation of the respective State Health Departments, was getting ready the National Testing Strategy to ensure an area could transit to the mitigation phase and hence, determine the level of infection in that area.
On self-quarantine at home and concern over the brought-in-dead (BID) cases, Khairy said the MOH was working at identifying the causes of these cases which were not monitored by the ministry or other health facilities.
"The MOH is very concerned about this situation. Up to August, 2,417 BID cases were recorded but it was clear that 2,200 such cases or 68 were not being monitored by the ministry or any private health facility.
"To make the public more confident with home quarantine, if they are being monitored by MOH, we will be sending the devices such as pulse oximeter to them and ensure that could always be contacted so that if there's a 'red flag', they will not be sent to the hospital late," he said.
On the delayed reporting of fatal cases, Khairy said this was not only happening in Malaysia but also in other countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and India.
"This happens across our country but more so in Klang Valley as from the end of July until mid-August, Klang Valley saw a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, resulting in heavy workload and constraints in terms resources, especially manpower," he added.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Sep 23 2021
Khairy said the Ministry of Health (MOH) is no longer using the conventional formula of achieving at least 80 per cent herd immunity among the country's adult population in curbing the spread of COVID-19. - BERNAMA photo
[TERKINI] KWSP akan struktur semula akaun KWSP kepada tiga akaun
Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) mengumumkan inisiatif penstrukturan semula akaun KWSP berkuat kuasa 11 Mei 2024 bagi tujuan menambah baik keselamatan pendapatan persaraan di samping memenuhi keperluan kitaran hidup ahli.
KWSP struktur semula kepada tiga akaun mulai 11 Mei
Akaun KWSP akan distruktur semula daripada dua kepada tiga, iaitu Akaun Persaraan, Akaun Sejahtera dan Akaun Fleksibel.
Malaysia, Jepun perkukuh kerjasama dalam sektor pembinaan
Kedua-dua negara juga berhasrat memperkukuhkan kerjasama mengenai perkongsian maklumat dalam pengurusan dan penyelenggaraan lebuh raya, cerun serta pertukaran tenaga kepakaran dan teknikal.
Apple dilapor kurangkan pengeluaran Vision Pro susulan permintaan rendah
Walaupun jualan pada awalnya amat memberangsangkan, momentum tidak berterusan kerana unit awal hanya dibeli oleh peminat paling tegar Apple.
Nahas dua kenderaan punca insiden kecoh semasa pengebumian pegawai TLDM - Polis
Siasatan awal mendapati kejadian berlaku pada jam 7.45 malam selepas pemandu kereta terlanggar sebuah motosikal berhampiran dengan masjid.
KL20: MYStartup platform boosts Malaysia’s startup ecosystem
KL20: Shariah-compliant startup revolution
Ringgit dibuka rendah berikutan dolar kekal tinggi menjelang data KDNK AS
Pada 9 pagi, ringgit susut kepada 4.7825/7870 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.7765/7780 ketika ditutup pada Rabu.
Isu penceramah pro-Zionis: 'Keluar! Anda tidak dialukan di negara ini!' - Rakyat Malaysia
Pada Rabu, Universiti Malaya (UM) mendapat kecaman kerana membenarkan Gilley menyebarkan propaganda Zionis dalam ceramahnya di universiti.
AWANI Ringkas: Mangsa nahas helikopter dikebumi hari ini
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
KJ puas hati Lokman Adam minta maaf, setuju bayar pampasan
Dakwa plaintif, kenyataan fitnah dalam saman itu membawa maksud antaranya beliau menipu orang ramai dengan mendakwa telah diberi vaksin COVID-19.
Keluar Sekejap ambil alih podsiar Jugador TV, rancang terus perluas empayar
Keluar Sekejap mengumumkan pengambilalihan podsiar luar pertama, iaitu Jugador TV.
KJ akhirnya dapat isi PADU selepas identiti dicuri
Khairy Jamaluddin akhirnya berjaya mendaftar dalam sistem PADU selepas mendakwa akaunnya telah didaftarkan oleh individu yang tidak dikenali.
Kes saman KJ terhadap Jamal Yunos diteruskan
Kes saman fitnah bekas Khairy Jamaluddin terhadap Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos, berhubung satu kenyataan media ketika PAU 2022 akan diteruskan di Mahkamah Tinggi pada Selasa.
Selepas DJ, Khairy jadi model pula
KJ kini menjadi model untuk sebuah produk minuman tempatan dan baju Melayu untuk sebuah syarikat pengeluar pakaian raya terkemuka.
Pempengaruh diingatkan hati-hati kendali podcast - Fahmi
Kerajaan akan melakukan pemantauan dari semasa ke semasa serta meneliti sebarang tindakan sekiranya perlu terhadap mereka yang membuat kandungan kurang membina.
‘On a serious note? Habis tadi tu tak serius?’... Rafidah minta KJ, Shahril 'tebalkan telinga'
KJ, Shahril sampai terkedu dengan jawapan 'savage' Tan Sri Rafidah. Ikuti kompilasi menarik dari podcast #KeluarSekejap episod ke-79 ini...
Akta Parlimen Berpenggal tidak demokratik - Khairy
Khairy berkata, cadangan Ahmad Zahid tidak demokratik tetapi jika ia usul seperti yang berlaku di UK, perkara itu boleh diperbincangkan.
Ganja dalam perubatan: Khairy serah kepada Menteri Kesihatan baharu
Keputusan sama ada penggunaan ganja dalam perubatan diteruskan atau tidak, diserahkan kepada Menteri Kesihatan yang baharu dilantik Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
COVID-19: Kes baharu cecah paras tertinggi tahunan, KJ dan Kian Ming saran lima langkah
Kes baharu cecah paras tertinggi tahunan iaitu 29,129 kes pada 11 Disember 2023, satu trend yang turut disaksikan di peringkat serantau dan global.