Immunisation for Year One pupils available at govt health facilities

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Parents and guardians of Year One pupils are urged to get the scheduled immunisation for their children from the nearest health facilities upon receiving appointment dates through their schools.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said following the Covid-19 pandemic and the movement control order (MCO), immunisation programmes could not be carried out in schools.

He said this involves immunisations for measles, rubella, diphtheria and tetanus for Year One pupils, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for Form One female students, and the ATT (additional dose for tetanus vaccine) for all Form Three students.

"The immunisation service for schoolchildren will continue, but while the schools are closed, the service will be provided at government health facilities such as Health Clinics, Mother and Child Health Clinics, or the nearest district health office.

"This year, the focus is on the immunisation for Year One pupils. For this, the ministry is collaborating with the Education Ministry to facilitate announcements to parents or guardians on the immunisation programme, ” he said in a statement Friday (May 15).

Dr Noor Hisham said while the government was fighting to contain the spread of Covid-19, parents and all members of the public must work hand in hand with the ministry to prevent communicable diseases.

He added that continuous support for immunisation programmes was crucial to protect the health and future of schoolchildren. – Bernama