Free or subsidised flu jabs in the offing

PUTRAJAYA: Free or subsidised influenza vaccination for vulnerable groups may be a reality here following the Health Ministry’s (MOH) plan to request for an allocation in Budget 2025 and beyond, says the Health Minister.

Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the vaccines could be part of the National Immunisation Programme.

“We will try our best to ask for this allocation. But as usual, we still have our priorities and look at the (overall) cost. We are aware that those in the elderly group are exposed to such risk. We will try to get it done especially for those aged 65 years and above.

“This is still under consideration in our request for Budget 2025 and the coming years,” he said after the National Immunisation Day celebration and the National Immunisation Summit 2024 here yesterday.

Dzulkefly said the one-dose vaccine would be given yearly, adding that as influenza-causing viruses tend to mutate, recipients would need updated vaccines every year.

Currently, the national immunisation coverage for babies and children is over 95% for most major vaccines under the programme, an achievement certified by the World Health Organisation.

Also present at the event were Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, MOH deputy secretary-general (Management) Datuk Zainal Alhakab Seman, Immunise4life Programme Technical Committee chairman Prof Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail and MOH Family Health Development division director Dr Mohd Safiee Ismail.

On MOH’s comprehensive Human Resource Master Plan to address health facilities, Dzulkefly said it would require inter-ministerial collaboration to compile all the necessary resources.

“It is at the development stage and will be part of our mid- and long-term plans,” he said in his speech, which also touched on the approval for the use of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis combination vaccine (DTaP) for expectant mothers.

DTaP is expected to be given out at the end of the year to protect newborns from pertussis, also known as whooping cough, with data showing that there is significant risk of newborns contracting the disease if this protection is not given.

Pertussis can cause uncontrollable, severe coughing that makes it hard to breathe, eat or drink, which makes it extremely serious for babies and young children.

If untreated, it may lead to pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage or even death.

In teens and adults, it can cause loss of bladder control, passing out and rib fractures from severe coughing.

On the Khazanah Research Institute’s study titled “Digital Health Records in Malaysia: The Journey and the Way Forward”, Dzukefly said it was high time for the healthcare system to be digitised, especially with the electronic medical records (EMR) system.

“Yes, I read the Khazanah study. We need to get digitised not only for the ageing society but we have to care for every citizen, from baby to adult, as all will benefit from the EMR.

“This is my commitment and also the ministry’s.”