KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — The government will open the second round of AstraZeneca vaccine for registration for those above the age of 60 starting May 23, announced Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Khairy Jamaluddin today. 

The registration will also extend outside of the Klang Valley, extending to Penang, Sarawak and Johor due to high Covid-19 cases within these states, said Khairy. 

Khairy also stressed that the May 23-26 registration will prioritise those above the age of 60, but if there are excess vaccine slots that have not been taken up, then the AstraZeneca vaccines will become available to the general public for registration after May 26.

“High risk groups such as those above the age of 60 will be given early access for the AstraZeneca vaccine registration for round 2.

“In tandem with rising cases, the vaccine registration will also be extended outside of the Klang Valley to three other states, namely Johor, Sarawak and Penang due to high Covid-19 cases in these states,’’ he said.

To help with effective vaccine registration, Khairy explained that the ministry will also conduct community outreach programmes through district health offices apart from online registration.

The AstraZeneca vaccines will also be sent directly to elderly care homes to expedite these processes, said Khairy.

However Khairy also said those in the waiting list when they registered for AstraZeneca vaccines during the first round of registration on May 5, will also get an appointment for their vaccine shots.

Khairy also said that the government will open online applications starting next week for those who wished to shorten the intervals between the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines.

Currently the intervals for the first and second vaccine shots for AstraZeneca is 12 weeks.

“We will allow for those who wish to apply for a shorter vaccine interval to apply on a website next week. This is for the likes of those such as students who are going abroad to study,’’ he said.