‘No immunisation laws plan’

Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

There are no plans to amend laws to make immunisation compulsory, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said the ministry has carried out many activities and programmes to create more awareness on immunisation.

They included providing counselling to parents, disseminating information on the importance of immunisation for schoolchildren and pre-schoolers, appointing immunisation advocates at government clinics and enhancing cooperation with agencies such as the Malaysian Paediatric Association and creating the www.immunise4life.my website.

“We have allocated RM2mil this year to carry out these nationwide campaigns. At the same time, we will continue to educate the public on issues related to vaccination and immunisation,” he said in a written reply to Dr Izani Husin (PAS-Pengkalan Chepa).

The MP asked what were the measures taken by the Government to address the rising cases of vaccine-prevented diseases such as whooping cough, measles and diphtheria due to anti-vaccine campaigns.

Dr Subramaniam urged MPs to help by encouraging the people to make the “wise decision” on the importance of immunisation for their children.

The Star reported last year that more parents have refused to provide immunisation for their children, which has worried doctors.

Children lacking immunisation also faced the risk of being stricken with preventable diseases, especially with the presence of many migrant workers here whose vaccination status is unknown.

Malaysian Paediatric Association subcommittee chairman for immunisation Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail said there was increasing hesitancy to accept childhood vaccination, especially among the more educated parents.

He said these children were not only at risk of suffering diseases but could also face complications and other long-term consequences from them.

Malaysia has a well-established national immunisation programme (NIP) which started in the 1950s, and this has kept the rates of many infectious diseases low.

Malaysia and her Asean neighbours have been free from polio since the year 2000, and this was made possible with a consistent immunisation programme, said Dr Zulkifli.

Malaysia has maintained a very high rate of vaccination, with over 90% of infants and young children receiving their vaccinations under the NIP.