Covid-19: MP asks if govt will take action against anti-vaxxers

 

PARLIAMENT | A BN backbencher has asked the government to state its efforts to counter anti-vaccination rhetoric amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

While debating the Budget 2021 bill, Mohd Nizar Zakaria (BN-Parit) said efforts to secure Covid-19 vaccines would be in vain if members of the public reject it due to anti-science influence.

"What I worry about is, even though a vaccine has yet to be procured, there is an anti-vaccine movement trying to influence the people to reject the vaccine.

"What efforts will be made by the (Health) ministry to curb the anti-vaccine ideology... also will stern action be taken against anti-vaccine groups (anti-vaxxers) who try to give the wrong information about vaccines?" he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The government is currently in contact with 10 companies who are working on the Covid-19 vaccine.

RM3 billion has been allocated under Budget 2021 to procure vaccines.

Nizar also asked whether the government was making sure the Covid-19 vaccines were halal.

Covid-19 has killed 313 people in the country. Some 1,103 new cases were reported yesterday. - Mkini