KUALA LUMPUR: Immunisation services for school children are still available at government health facilities, despite the closure of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said priority would be given to Year One pupils, and immunisation can be done at the nearest Klinik Kesihatan, women and children health clinics and District Health offices.
"Therefore, parents and guardians with children in Year One are urged to bring them for immunisation after receiving the appointment schedule from the respective schools.
"To this end, the Health Ministry has sought cooperation with the Education Ministry to assist in coordinating notification to parents and guardians on this," he said in a statement today.
Dr Noor Hisham said infectious diseases, especially vaccine-preventable diseases, are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children.
Immunisation, he added, was one of the most effective ways of dealing with cases of infectious diseases in children.
He said the Health Ministry's immunisation services in school are one of the government's efforts to curb the spread of such diseases.
"As Malaysia faces the Covid-19 pandemic, the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the Conditional MCO, the delivery of immunisation services in schools cannot be done, as schools are still closed."
These would include immunisation for measles, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus for Year One pupils, human papillomavirus vaccination for female Form One students, and a tetanus booster for Form Three students, he added.
"The general public and parents in particular are urged to work together with the ministry and play their own roles in fighting against infectious diseases.
"Everyone's continued support for the immunisation programme is vital for the health and future of school children as they are the country's assets," added Dr Noor Hisham.