KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (Sin Chew Daily) – Local public health medical expert Prof. Dr. Victor Hoe Chee Wai bin Abdullah said herd immunity could only be achieved if 90% of the Malaysian population receives coronavirus vaccine. 

He said this will take at least half a year to one year's time because it takes time to vaccinate the adult population of this country in stages.

"Medical frontliners and the vulnerable groups will first receive the vaccination. This will help reduce the number of patients requiring long-term hospitalization, coronavirus deaths, and number of patients suffering from serious illnesses.

"After that it will become a very common thing just like flu, and this is good enough!"

Dr Hoe, who is head of the Universiti Malaya occupational safety, health and environment unit, said during an interview with Sin Chew Daily that Malaysia must maximize the benefits of the vaccines, including reducing the infection risk and the incidence of critically ill patients.

Nevertheless, he stressed that these vaccines would not completely stop the spread of the virus.

"Once we receive the vaccine, we will be free from the infection. And even if we get infected, we'll only present very minor symptoms.

"After the vaccination, the virus can still get into your body through nose. And even though you won't get sick, you can still spread the virus to other people."

He said at this juncture the government will not vaccinate minors below the age of 12, as the vaccines have not yet been tested on minors and pregnant women.

"Tests conducted on age 12 to 15 are also very limited, numbering under a thousand."

He also said the vaccines are particularly important for vulnerable groups because these people will get seriously ill once infected, while most people infected with the coronavirus will only present minor symptoms, just like flu.