november, 2019 | The Health
ISSUE: PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE
09
Q&A with Dr Lee Boon Chye
How will the pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine (PCV) be implemented in
Malaysia?
The vaccines will be included in the
National Immunisation Programme, which
will now have a total of 12 protection
against diseases by vaccination.
Will the vaccines be given to babies
by the end of this year? And what are
the eligibility criteria if any?
The allocation of the PCV for children is
part of the Budget 2020. Once approved,
all babies born on 1 Jan 2020 onwards will
be eligible to receive free pneumococcal
vaccination at public hospitals and clinics.
The vaccination will be administered in
three doses.
By your estimation, how many
Malaysians will benefit from the PCV
once it has been rolled out next year?
It is estimated that around 500,000
children every year will benefit from
the vaccination. We hope to have a
immunisation rate of 95 per cent to ensure
total protection from pneumococcal
disease.
The vaccine our children need
Recent tabling of Budget 2020 saw
the Ministry of Health receiving
RM60 million allocation to provide
our children with vaccination against
pneumococcal disease
Dr Lee Boon Chye says the allocation
in providing pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine (PCV) will help improve the
nation’s overall health while also saving
a lot of cost in pneumococcal disease-
related treatment in the long run.
He says the PCV programme may be able to
begin by the end of the first quarter of next
year, depending on the negotiation process
with the pharmaceutical companies supply-
ing said vaccines.
T
he allocated RM60 million is the
starting point made by the govern-
ment to shield our children from
pneumococcal disease.
According to the Deputy Min-
ister of Health, Dr Lee Boon Chye,
the allocation is a sign of the government’s
commitment to provide better healthcare
to Malaysians as well as to assist the lower
income group.
“The Ministry of Health (MoH) is thankful
for the sizeable allocation made for providing
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to
Malaysian children as tabled during Budget
2020. It goes to show the valiant efforts made
by the government towards healthcare.”
Lee adds this important step is taken after
thorough research by MoH.
“Pneumococcal disease affects 9.1 babies
out of 100,000. That is a significant number,
given that affected babies’ susceptibility in
developing brain and lung problems. As
many as 20 per cent of the babies affected
can die from a pneumococcal infection.”
A much needed initiative
The World Health Organisation (WHO)
has strongly recommended children to be
immunised against pneumococcal disease
since its inception around the year 2000,
with later improvement in 2010.
“More than a hundred countries around
the world have implemented immunisa-
tion against pneumococcal disease among
children. The PCV will be an addition to the
11 vaccines already in place in our National
Immunisation Programme.”
He mentions the cost for PCV has been
a burden for many, as it would cost up to
RM1,000 for the typical three to four rounds
of injections.
“We will include PCV in the immunisation
programme and have it be free of charge at
public hospitals and clinics nationwide.
However, the vaccines will only start to
be administered after the budget has been
approved and the vaccines itself has been
acquired.
“Through estimates, we would be able to
start providing PCV to babies born on 1 Jan
2020 by the middle of next year.”
The same was said by Datuk Dr Noor
Hisham Abdullah, Director-General of
Health in a media conference in early Oct.
SAFE AND
WARRANTED:
The pneumococcal
vaccine, as with
any other vaccines
provided in the
national immunisation
programme has been
proven to significantly
lower the risks of
severe diseases in
children and adults
alike.
Is it safe?
Above is a question many might start to ask
when a new vaccine comes into town. As
some Malaysians are unfortunately plagued
by strong scepticism (if not downright
rejection) about vaccines, it is important
for the authorities to communicate clearly
to parents on the advantages of PCV, and of
any other vaccines for that matter.
“The public, especially parents with babies
need to understand that vaccine in general is
a scientifically proven preventative measure
against diseases. As with the case for PCV,
there is a chance that pneumococcal disease
can be completely eradicated if immunisa-
tion rate is up to 95 per cent,” explains Lee.
He says that for parents, babies develop-
ing fever after vaccination is normal.
“Mild side effects shouldn’t be a deterrent
for parents to have their babies vaccinated,
as they could provide a bigger health risk to
themselves and others around them if they
are not immunised.”
He also mentions that MoH is hard at
work to provide all the nurses in hospitals
and clinics nationwide with ample knowl-
edge on vaccines, and have them explain
about them in detail to parents.
“We hope that the PCV can be adminis-
tered to every child to ensure a better and
healthier future for them.” — The Health