Education Ministry awaits input from MoH before mandating vaccinations for students

The decision on whether or not to require all students to receive vaccines to prevent deadly diseases will be made after consultations with the Ministry of Health (MOH), said Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He said if it was deemed necessary, the measure would be implemented in the near future or at the latest, by early next year.

"The Education Ministry is awaiting the views of the Health Ministry regarding the administering of vaccines, and after that we will submit (the proposal) to the Federal government for approval.

"Once approved, all students will be required to be vaccinated to prevent being infected by dangerous epidemic diseases," he told reporters after presenting Aidilfitri contributions here, today.

He said it was also time for the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health to set up a special team to exchange ideas and opinions on the matter.

"This special team will be set up in the near future, bringing together those in the Ministry of Education with experts from the Ministry of Health and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who can provide insights related to the issue," said Mahdzir.

He said the vaccination was important for the health of students, although there were parents who refused to have their children to be immunised due to lack of accurate information and awareness.

On June 25, Deputy Education Minister Datuk P.Kamalanathan said the ministry was holding discussions with the Ministry of Health to mandate vaccinations for school students, following the deaths of a 7-year-old girl in Melaka and a 2-year-old boy in Kedah due to diphteria, having failed to be immunised.