Our children deserve the best, help to protect them with immunisation! - National Immunisation Sched

Most research shows that some parents are concerned about vaccine safety and effectiveness. It is important for parents to understand that the risk of complications from childhood diseases, for example measles is much higher than the risk of reactions after immunisation. When parents of young children have had no direct experience of childhood diseases, it is easy to underestimate their effects and complications.

Immunisation is one of the most effective ways to protect children, and in extension, the people in this country from communicable disease. The latest vaccines provided by the Malaysian Ministry of Health are based on the World Health Organisation’s Expanded Immunisation Programme (WHO-EIP).

Communicable disease is the main cause of deformities/defects and death among children. Communicable diseases lead to high morbidity and mortality. Immunisation provide a safe and efficient way to prevent the spread of many communicable diseases. Every vaccine used in Malaysia has been thoroughly tested for safety and effectiveness and is subject to ongoing monitoring and evaluation. However, vaccines are like any other medication and they may trigger side effects but these are mostly mild in the majority of cases. This is why parents are generally advised to remain at the clinic for at least 15 minutes after their children are immunised. Immunisation is an effective way to prevent and reduce these kinds of disease. Thus, the Malaysian Ministry of Health have executed immunisation programmes to prevent these communicable diseases:

These immunizations are given free of charge in all health clinics, mother and child heatlh clinic, K1Malaysia and village clinics under the Malaysian Ministry of Health. The latest immunization schedule is as provided below:

The National Immunisation Schedule for Children from birth to 15 years of age

Note: The schedule has been updated to so that the MMR vaccine can be administered at 9 months and 12 months.

The effectiveness of immunisation

It is true that some people still catch a disease even though they have been vaccinated against it. In some cases, even if people do catch the disease after vaccination, their symptoms can be far less severe if they have been vaccinated. No vaccine can offer complete immunity against disease for everyone. Examples of vaccine effectiveness include:

diphtheria – 84 out of every 100 people vaccinated will be completely immune
haemophilus influenzae type b (hib) – 95 out of every 100 people vaccinated will be completely immune
measles, mumps, rubella – 95 out of every 100 people vaccinated will be completely immune
whooping cough – about 85 out of every 100 people vaccinated will be completely immune
polio – 95 out of every 100 people vaccinated will be completely immune.