Malaysia not spared from vaccine 'misinformation' - Dzulkefly

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad cautioned that Malaysia has not been spared from a global phenomenon of “misinformation” on vaccines.

In his speech to launch National Immunisation Day, Dzulkefly cited an increase in parents denying vaccinations for their children and posing an overall threat to public health through re-emergences of diseases such as polio and diphtheria.

“This is not about knowledge, because knowledge requires discipline and continuous evidence.

“This is also not about choice, because choice requires accountability, especially to the public.

“This is about misinformation shared as ‘anti-science’ propaganda, which started in the West but has now turned into a global phenomenon,” he said in Putrajaya.

The day-long event was also held in conjunction with the World Health Organisation’s World Immunisation Week, marked annually on the last week of April.

In Malaysia, Dzulkefly said the vaccination rate among babies and children remains high at above 95 percent for 10 main vaccines required under the National Immunisation Plan.

Further, he said the government has also approved the combined diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (D-Tap) vaccine for pregnant mothers.

“This (vaccination) will start at the end of this year, to protect newborns from being infected with pertussis or whooping cough,” he added.

The one-dose D-Tap vaccine will be available for free to all pregnant mothers at between 27 and 32 weeks. - Mkini