Ministry of Health committed to making vaccination compulsory — Dr Dzulkefly

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health ( MoH) will not give up in making immunisation vac cinat ion c ompu l sor y, although admitting it would be dif ficult to implement the programme mandatorily.

I ts mini s ter Datuk Ser i Dr Dzulkef ly Ahmad said the ministry had the overall responsibi l ity of ensuring that the target groups in the programme would be further enlightened on the importance of vaccination.

“Whatever it is, we will start ( implementing the policy of compulsory vaccination), but what is most important is the realisation and awareness of parents that safety and health of

Whatever it is, we will start (implementing the policy of compulsory vaccination), but what is most important is the realisation and awareness of parents that safety and health of their children are paramount and know the risk if their children are not vaccinated. Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Health Minister

their children are paramount and know the risk if their children are not vaccinated.

“The ant i - vaccine g roup has only been exposed to the negativities and not information based on facts. Thus, all parties, not just those at the ministry but also at Jakim ( Malaysia Islamic Development Department), and many of the muftis have given positive views on vaccination.”

He said this at a press conference after opening the 26th Meeting of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils ( CCFO) here yesterday.

On Sunday, Dr Dzulkef ly reportedly said the proposed policy of making immunisation vaccination compulsory would be discussed at the ministry’s post- cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, the five- day CCFO meeting, gathers more than 100 delegates to discuss various international standards on fats and oils from animal and vegetable sources. Dr Dzulkef ly said the Food Safety and Quality Division under MoH would be upgraded to Food Safety Authority Malaysia ( FSA) after the tabling of the Bill in Parliament this March.

“The FSA is to boost food safety control in protecting people’s health. It can also help improve the country’s economy by easing trade in food through global branding of local food products that are safe and of high quality,” he added.