THE scheduled vaccinations for school children against infectious diseases is not new as the National Immunisation Programme was started in the early 1950s based on the recommendation of the World Health Organisation.
Currently, the programme protects Malaysian children against 13 major diseases.
However, rumours have recently surfaced that new vaccines have been added to the programme.
Is it true that Malaysian students will receive a new vaccine?
VERDICT:
FALSE
The only vaccines students will receive are those scheduled under the National Immunisation Programme.
MyCheck Malaysia confirmed the fact and said that the Health Ministry would announce any updates to the programme.
It added that the Ministry said that any immunisation for children must be taken according to the specified period to ensure optimal protection
The Ministry then said that the vaccinations scheduled under the programmes are given free of charge to every Malaysian at government clinics in each state, while private clinics also provide this vaccination service for a fee.
Based on the latest immunisation schedule, Year One students would be given a booster vaccine that protects against diphtheria and tetanus.
In secondary schools, girls in Form One will receive the HPV vaccine to protect against cervical cancer, while the tetanus toxoid vaccine would be given to Form Three students to prevent tetanus – also known as lockjaw.
References:
https://www.mycheck.my/more.
