PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry will roll out a mechanism to enforce mandatory vaccination this year.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkelfy Ahmad, said this followed overwhelming public support for making immunisation mandatory.
“It is crucial for everyone to get the information and explanation, even though there are those who find it hard to accept immunisation and vaccination programmes.
“We need time for engagement, explanation and discussion with the public rather than simply making it mandatory.
“At the same time, if we want to make vaccination mandatory, there are also things that we need to address,” he told reporters after attending the launch of KPJ Damansara’s new intensive care unit and neonatal intensive care unit.
Dzulkefly had earlier said the ministry had set up a task force to look into all aspects to ensure mandatory vaccination for children.
He said the ministry might look into administering compulsory vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) as well as diphtheria for all children in light of the measles and diphtheria outbreak in the country.
He stressed that even though the ministry was not rushing to make vaccination mandatory or statutory, when the government finalised the matter, Malaysians, particularly parents, needed to be committed.
“Parents should understand that if they do not immunise or vaccinate their children, what happened in Johor Baru (last year) may also happen to their children.”
A 14-month-old girl succumbed to diphtheria on Oct 15 last year. According to Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the baby did not receive the diphtheria immunisation because the family had refused it.