Health Ministry to identify groups left out of immunisation programme

The Health Ministry will identify groups left out of the immunisation programme, including the poor.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the measure would be taken following the death of two children in Melaka and Kedah due to diphtheria.

"This needed to be addressed. The families (of two children) failed to give them a compete vaccination due to poverty and nomadic lifestyle.

"They are not anti-vaccine but were left out because of socio-economic issue, whereas the immunisation programme is free-of-charge," he told reporters after the ministry's break of fast with the media here, today.

The ministry with collaboration of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will identify and trace the groups to ensure that they would get a complete vaccination.

Commenting on anti-vaccine group, Dr Subramaniam said the ministry would step up its awareness campaign to change negative perception of the vaccine.

"For now, it (vaccination) is not a must. We encourage the parents to ensure that their children received it and many have followed.

"For a start, we will increase their awareness. Then, we will look at other approach," he said.

He said although the vaccine jabs may cause minimal side effects such as swelling and fever, such a protection was important and considered safe.

"Vaccine is evaluated in terms of quality, efficacy and safety in which it must be clinically proven before it is registered by the drugs control agency and the Health Ministry.

"It is a must before it is made available in the Malaysian market," he said, adding the government had spent RM100 million per annum on it.