‘In recent days and weeks, there have been statements made about moving from a Covid-19 pandemic state to an endemic phase by the end of October 2021. The argument for this is that higher adult vaccination rates will be achieved nationwide by that time. So we need to ask this question: Is Malaysia ready to move to an endemic phase by the end of October 2021? I would like to describe some ‘movements’ we need to make as a nation for us to be ready to enter an endemic phase, as well as offer you a ‘report card’ of our preparedness measures.
- Move from looking at adult vaccination rates to total population vaccination rates
- Move away from herd immunity concepts to mitigating outbreaks
- Move from vaccinating adults to vaccinating children (before reopening schools)
- Move from SOPs to a sustainable change in lifestyle, move from external enforcement to societal checks, and move from dependence on vaccines to using all tools and mitigation measures
- Malaysia’s report card on its preparedness in entering a Covid-19 endemic phase
Three possible ‘phases’ impending
‘Finally, a note about what is to come. No one can predict what will happen with Covid-19, but after hearing international experts and looking at our situation, I would like to offer some ideas.
‘We are currently in what I call the primary protection phase, whereby we are racing against Delta and trying to complete adult vaccination. Many states outside the Klang Valley are in trouble, and we are starting to see rising cases of children hospitalised nationally.
‘We will then move to what I call a consolidation phase, where we try to increase societal protection and reduce the spread of Covid-19 by vaccinating teenagers. Meanwhile, we have to look at the data carefully for any signs of waning immunity, and if adult boosters are required.
‘We then enter a phase I call the long-term danger phase. Here is where we must not let down our guard and risk more outbreaks, especially if worse variants appear. We can do this by a change in lifestyle to address the long term Covid-19 journey. There may be a need to invest in new vaccines.’
Read here (Code Blue, Sept 6, 2021)
