KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is looking to make pneumococcal vaccinations mandatory for children under the age of two.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said he expects for the vaccination to be included in the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) during the tenure of the current government.

In their manifesto, the Pakatan Harapan government promised to provide compulsory pneumococcal vaccination for all children under the age of two.

The vaccine would prevent pneumococcal disease which could lead to infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and bacteremia.

Dr Dzulkefly said he has put in a “special request” to include the provision of the vaccine in the next budget.

“I have put in a request to have this pneumococcal vaccine done for (children) under two (years) to the tune of RM180mil for a cohort (batch) of about 500,000 per year.