Emerging Infectious Diseases - CDC

Pneumococcal Vaccination For Kids To Be Expanded

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PUTRAJAYA: The free pneumococcal vaccination programme will be expanded to those born between 2018 and 2019 starting June 1, says the Health Ministry.

Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the programme would be expanded because unvaccinated children below the age of five are at risk of invasive pneumococcal disease and are exposed to complications.

"The nationwide pneumococcal vaccination programme will start on June 1 until May 31 next year and it will involve the ministry's primary healthcare facilities," she said when launching the "Catch-up on Pneumococcal Immunisation" programme on National Immunisation Day yesterday.

In December 2020, the government included pneumococcal vaccination in the National Immunisation Programme for those who born in January that year.

Dr Zaliha said the ministry is targeting to inoculate 70% or 700,000 of the one million children aged four to five under the two-year programme.

There will be only one pneumococcal vaccine dose administered to four- to five-year-olds compared with the three doses given out in stages for babies at four and six months old and 15 months for the third or booster dose.

"Those looking to set an appointment for the vaccination can do so via the MySejahtera app," she added.

Pneumococcal disease is caused by the streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) bacteria which will cause a range of infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and sinus, and could lead to severe infections.

"Our officers will continue to track children who were left out from immunisation programmes or who missed any of their scheduled vaccinations to ensure adequate coverage against infectious diseases and also minimise the risk of infection," Dr Zaliha said.

Free Pneumococcal Vaccine For Children Born In 2018, 2019 - Dr Zaliha

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Free Pneumococcal Vaccine For Children Aged 4, 5

FROM tomorrow until May 31, 2024, children born between 2018 and 2019 will be able to get free pneumococcal vaccinations at all Health Ministry (MOH) primary facilities. 

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said it was an expansion programme for pneumococcal immunisation as children born in that period were previously not included in the target group for pneumococcal vaccination under the National Immunisation Programme. 

In a press conference after officiating the National-Level Immunisation Day 2023 celebration, Zaliha said children aged four and five would be given a single dose of the vaccine while babies are given three doses – at four months, six months, and 15 months. 

"Parents or guardians who want to get the pneumococcal vaccination for their children can do walk-ins at health and village clinics nationwide or by making appointments via the MySejahtera application," she said. 

The pneumococcal vaccine protects against the Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus bacterial infection.

Among the diseases caused by the bacteria are pneumonia, sinus infection, middle ear infection, and meningitis, as well as septicaemia. 

Complications of pneumococcal disease include hearing impairment and brain damage, which could lead to death. 

MOH began administering pneumococcal vaccination in the National Immunisation Programme on December 1, 2020 for children born on January 1, 2020 onwards. 

Zaliha said the MOH has targetted a total of 700,000 or 70% of one million children born between 2018 and 2019 to be given the pneumococcal vaccine. 

Meanwhile, under the National Immunisation Programme for infants and children, there are 11 types of vaccine products given to prevent 13 vaccine-preventable diseases, namely tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae type-B, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella, she said. 

For female students aged 13, the human papillomavirus vaccine will be given while in Sarawak, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine will also be given, she added.  

"Now the success of immunisation coverage for infants and children is high at the national level and has reached the target set by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is more than 95% for most of the main vaccines in the immunisation programme. This achievement has also been certified by the WHO," she said. – Bernama, May 31, 2023.  

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