The Health Ministry is prepared to consider a proposal of the Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA) to make at least two of the 12 vaccines under the National Immunisation Programme compulsory.
Its minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the proposal requiring vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) as well as diphtheria will be finalised soon.
"The proposal we obtained will take into consideration of making one or two vaccines compulsory in which we could prevent six to seven types of diseases,” he told the media after opening the 2019 Malaysia Health Conference at Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur today.
He said at the moment, the ministry had mobilised a task force to study all proposals in the effort to make immunisation compulsory for all children in the country.
Dzulkefly said the task force showed high commitment in ensuring the health interest of children are assured and fatalities involving children who were not given vaccine would not recur.
- Bernama
