Poster Presentation Asia-Pacific Vaccine and Immunotherapy Congress 2026

Potential Public Health Impact of Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Strategies in Malaysia: Epidemiological Data Update  (#173)

Karan Thakkar 1 , Moe H Kyaw 2 , Sharlini Surendran 1 , Iustina Chirila 2 , Carlos Fernando Mendoza 2 , Masliyana Husin 3 , Peter Seah Keng Tok 3 , Vivek Jason Jayaraj 4 , Sheamini Sivasampu 3 5 , Josie Dodd 6 , Ben Yarnoff 6 , Isra Ahmad Farouk 7
  1. Pfizer Pte. Ltd, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia
  2. Pfizer, Inc.
  3. Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
  4. Digital Health Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
  5. National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
  6. Evidera, Inc
  7. Medical Affairs (Vaccines), Pfizer Pte. Ltd., Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia (Presenting Author Only)

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for COVID-19, has continually evolved, necessitating updated vaccination strategies. This study estimates the potential public health and economic impacts of different COVID-19 vaccination strategies in Malaysia using an adapted COVID-19 vaccine. 

Methods: A previously published Markov-decision-tree model (2021-22), has been updated with the latest epidemiology data from Malaysia (October 2022 – September 2023). This updated model was used to assess the outcomes of alternative vaccination strategies using the adapted COVID-19 vaccine. Age-specific inputs were derived from Malaysian epidemiological data and published sources. The model projected health outcomes (cases, hospitalizations, and deaths) and economic outcomes (direct medical costs and productivity losses) across various age and risk categories. 

Results: Vaccinating individuals aged 60 and above, as well as high-risk individuals aged 6 months to 59 years with vaccine coverage of 20%, is projected to prevent 91,824 infections, 1,477 hospitalizations, and 53 deaths. The model estimated total savings of MYR 90.9 million in direct medical costs attributed to COVID-19 treatment and MYR 110.4 million in indirect costs attributed to COVID-19 illness. This compares to prevention of 274,313 cases, 33,229 hospitalizations, 2,434 deaths, Malaysian ringgit (MYR) 576 million in direct medical costs, and MYR 579 million in indirect costs in the previous evaluation. Expanding coverage among individuals aged 60 and above, as well as high-risk individuals of any age, to 50% could further increase the reduction in deaths, hospitalizations, infections, and costs by up to 150%. 

Conclusions: When considering recent updated epidemiology data and expected vaccination coverage, vaccination strategies appear to have a smaller impact, largely caused by the reduction in vaccine coverage. However, despite this, using an adapted COVID-19 vaccine could still significantly impact public health and economic outcomes in Malaysia especially among high-risk populations and older adults.