Health database for pupils praised

KUALA LUMPUR: The move to make it compulsory for Year One pupils to submit their immunisation records by 2020 is lauded by health experts and parents.

Dr H. Krishna Kumar said the availability of a vaccination database of children who were to start school (Year One) would enable the health authorities to take measures to prevent diphtheria.

“From the school’s application form, we can find out if the children have missed out on their vaccinations, which could affect their chance of enrolment.

“This would ensure parents do the necessary.”

He said schools in Singapore, for example, took into consideration pupils’ vaccination history before enrolment.

“Some schools look at childrens’ body mass index to ensure they are in the best of health.

“Children who fail to meet health requirements, for example, will miss the opportunity to be enrolled in top schools there.”

Dr Krishna said similar incentives could be introduced here to encourage parents to complete the children’s vaccination.

Those who refused to get vaccination for their children, Dr Krishna said, might have been misinformed about the nature of herd immunity.

“A high percentage of the population needs to get vaccinated to get herd immunity.

“In Malaysia, the number of unvaccinated foreigners, mainly immigrant workers, is still very high.

“Even if we were to vaccinate the entire nation, there would still be a big percentage of foreigners who aren’t vaccinated, which makes diphtheria hard to contain,” he said.