KUALA LUMPUR, 24 April 2020:
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has highlighted that immunisation programmes at health facilities continue as usual and wants parents to adhere to the set immunisation schedules and appointments.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said parents who had gone back to their hometowns have to set an appointment for their children’s immunisation at any nearby health clinic or private clinic to avoid immunisation delay.
He said a delay in immunisation could put their children at increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio.
This could also lead to an outbreak of such diseases that could be life-threatening if it could not be contained, he added.
“In our effort to break the chain of Covid-19 infection with the recommendations from WHO (World Health Organisation), children’s immunisation schedule must be followed to maintain a high level of herd immunity,” he said in a statement today in conjunction with World Immunisation Week that falls each year from April 24 to 30.
This year’s theme – #VaccinesWork For All – has been selected by WHO to promote immunisation as well as its importance to protect mankind from all walks of life from contracting vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr Noor Hisham said it is well known that immunisation has been proven as among the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions in reducing incidents, including death from a vaccine-preventable diseases.
He added that history and facts had proven immunisation has saved millions of lives worldwide. However, for the past couple of years, several countries have experienced outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio.
Malaysia was also shocked with the re-emergence of a polio case in December last year – after the country was declared polio-free since 27 years ago.
“To date, there have been four polio cases confirmed through laboratory tests as well as two polio compatible cases that met the clinical features of polio, all of which occurred in Sabah,” Dr Noor HIsham said.
On measles cases, he said there was a decrease by 1,077 cases last year compared to 1,958 cases in 2018 nationwide. However, the number of deaths increased to 15 in 2019, compared to six in 2018.
Meanwhile, a total of 915 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have been recorded with 20 deaths in 2019, which is an increase from the 892 cases with 22 deaths in 2018. Meantime, 16 diphtheria cases were recorded with six deaths last year compared to 18 cases with six deaths in 2018, he noted.
“The majority of these cases were due to not getting the vaccine injections. There were also cases of infants who had not to reached the appropriate age to receive the vaccine,” said Dr Noor Hisham.
On behalf of MoH, he also expressed all round appreciation to individuals and organisations who had contributed to the success of immunisation programmes, particularly to the medical frontliners involved in providing the vaccine and the public for their support.
All countries including Malaysia are urged to give priority to the continued routine immunisation of children as well as provide vaccinations for groups most at risk in essential service delivery.
In a joint statement, WHO and United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said efforts must be made to ensure vaccination schedules of children stay up-to-date while taking appropriate measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“Global vaccination coverage is still far from the 95% treatment rate needed to fully protect communities against outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Roughly, 13 million of children have never received any vaccine, putting them and their communities at risk of diseases and death.
“Measles continues to remain an ever-present threat, especially if the vaccination rates drop. Current projections indicate that as many as 800,000 people may have been infected with diseases in 2019,” said the statement in conjunction with the World Immunisation Week 2020.
According to the statement, there were increasing concerns about another resurgence in 2020, especially if vaccination rates fell due to delay or suspension of scheduled immunisation activities as a result of Covid-19.
The statement said if immunisation services were to be suspended, urgent catch-up vaccinations should be rescheduled as soon as possible, prioritising those most at risk.
WHO Representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, Dr Lo Ying-Ru said there were many impacts of Covid-19, including the possible resurgence of diseases that could be prevented with safe and effective vaccines.
She said it is essential to ensure access to immunisation services during Covid-19, and that all parents should continue to have their children fully vaccinated against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, Stefan Priesner said immunisation saves millions of lives every year and is widely recognised as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions.
He said it was crucial that countries continue the fight against these other diseases.
“World Immunisation Week 2020 comes at a difficult time as we grapple to fight and contain the Covid-19 virus. However, we must keep in mind the need for routine immunisation for other diseases such as polio and measles.”
Meanwhile, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia, Marianne Clark-Hattingh said the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the fallout had been a painful lesson to make vaccines universally available for all to stop the spread and to prevent further outbreaks.
She said every child, regardless of their status, has the right to be immunised as the disease does not discriminate.
“The poorest and most marginalised children who need immunisation the most continue to be the least likely to get it. Most of the children who were not inoculated live in remote rural locations or with undocumented, refugee, migrant or stateless families.”
– Bernama