MMR, DIPHTHERIA JABS TO BE MADE MANDATORY
Govt to amend law by year end, says health minister
THE government aims to amend the law to make two out of 12 scheduled vaccinations mandatory this year. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the proposal to make the MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) and diphtheria vaccinations under the National Immunisation Programme compulsory was put forward by the Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA) to the ministry.
“Before we roll out these two vaccinations, the government has to amend the law to ensure that they are made mandatory.
“Hence, we have to table the matter in Parliament first. It will not be tabled in the coming parliamentary sitting, but maybe in the middle or end of this year.
“We are confident the proposal will be implemented once an amendment to the law is made,” he said at the national-level AntiAedes Gotong-Royong Campaign here yesterday.
On whether the ministry plans to make vaccinations for undocumented foreigners and stateless children compulsory, Dzulkefly said they should get immunised.
He said the ministry would handle such cases as he believed undocumented foreigners and stateless children brought in the diseases.
“It will be a huge problem for our country if those bringing in the disease are not immunised.
“They need to pay to get the treatment. But if they cannot afford it, we will have to bear the cost as we don’t want outbreaks in the country.”
He had said the ministry had mobilised a task force to study proposals to make immunisation compulsory for children.