KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Covid-19 vaccination programme has been one of the most successful in the world, says Deputy Health Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
He said to date, 98% of adults, 94% of adolescents and 33% of five- to 12-year olds have been fully vaccinated against the virus.
He also said the ministry aimed to have 50% of children inoculated.
Although Tuesday (May 31) marks the last day for children to get free vaccines under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids), he said it is possible to reach the target because at least 48% of children in the targeted age group have received their first dose.
In addition, an exception will be made for two groups: those who have yet to turn five years old between May 31 and Dec 31, and children who were infected or whose parents contracted Covid-19 recently.
The last date for both groups to get their vaccine is Jan 31 next year.
"I believe the percentage will be more than 50% by the end of the (PICKids) programme on Jan 31," Dr Noor Azmi told reporters after a World No Tobacco Day 2022 event at SJK(C) Chong Wen on Tuesday.
He also said the law to ban smoking activities and the possession of any smoking products, including electronic cigarettes (vaping), for those born after 2005 is being finalised by the Attorney General's Chambers.
On March 26, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Act will be tabled in Parliament in July.
He also said over 27,000 Malaysians die every year from tobacco-related illnesses.
"The prevalence of smoking has never gone down (in Malaysia)," he said, adding that it has constantly hovered between 20% and 22% of the population.
At the same event, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the Education Ministry will fully support the Act.
"This is in line with the recommendation of the Health Ministry to implement a generational endgame for tobacco control," he said.
Dr Mah said the young generation must be aware that smoking causes death.
"Not just addiction and health problems but it endangers our lives and those around us," he added.
He said over seven million deaths occur by direct tobacco usage while 1.2 million more are from passing smoking.
A former medical practitioner, Dr Mah said tobacco usage causes chronic illnesses including heart and lung disease, and over 20 types of cancer.
Malaysia Tobacco Control Council president Prof Datuk Dr Lekhraj Rampal said the Act is long awaited.
He said it has been postponed for nearly four Parliament sittings.
"It is time for the Members of Parliament and Adun to be united.
"We need a whole of government approach," he said, adding that community leaders must also be roped in to make this a success.
He said the council, which consists of 38 NGOs and higher education institutions, also wanted an immediate ban on the sale of vaping and e-cigarette products to teenagers.
Among its nine other suggestions to see a drastic decrease in tobacco usage among Malaysians, Prof Rampal said taxes collected from the sale of tobacco products should be used to help smokers who want to quit.
