KOTA KINABALU: Covid-19 vaccine recipients still have to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOP) after they get the full two doses of the inoculation.

Universiti Sabah Malaysia family medicine consultant Associate Professor Dr Mohd Nazri Mohd Daud said such measures were meant for the safety not just of themselves but the people around them.

"The vaccine administered is meant to activate the immunity system in the body to fight or prevent diseases, which leads to preventing the spread of the virus.

"Although the clinical data has stated (as much as) 95 per cent of vaccine effectiveness against Covid-19 virus, it is better if the SOP are obeyed," he said, adding the virus is still considered new and complex and requires long-term data collection.

Dr Nazri was speaking during a virtual Covid-19 Education and Health series that was broadcast in the varsity's Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

He added that those with high risk of being exposed to Covid-19 are encouraged to get the vaccine when it is available in the country soon.

"Even though the production period for the vaccine is short, those products from companies such as Pfizer and BioNTech had undergone preclinical and third phase clinical trials as well as data collection that showed high effectiveness.

"The vaccine is crucial and without it the community will have to live (battling) the pandemic for a long time," he added.

The four categories that have to be prioritised in vaccination include frontliners, senior citizens, those with chronic diseases as well as those who need protection such as expecting and nursing mothers.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/01/660971/expert-follow-covid-19-sop-even-after-vaccination