KUALA NERANG: The Education Ministry will soon make it mandatory for school students to get vaccinations.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the ministry is awaiting a full report from the Health Ministry on the matter.
He said that a taskforce consisting of those from the ministry would also be formed to enable them to get views from various parties including physicians and representatives from non-govermental organisations (NGOs), which would later be presented to the Cabinet.
"I believe that it is important for the children to get vaccinations in order to curb the spread of serious illnesses that could endanger their lives.
"However, we need to get full report from the Health Ministry on the matter before we can bring the matter to the Cabinet.
"If possible, we wish to make it mandatory for school students to get vaccinations by this year, or the latest by early next year," said Mahdzir.
Mahdzir was commenting on the progress of the discussion with the Health Ministry on the vaccination issue among school students.
The issue was raised following the outbreak of diphtheria in the country which has so far claimed the lives of several children.