Immunisation is one of the most effective ways to protect children, and in extension, the people in this country from diseases preventable by immunization. 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 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:
Diseases protected by immunisation available in Malaysian Government Clinics
| Disease | Immunisation / Vaccine | Vaccine administered by | Complication of Disease |
| Tuberculosis | BCG | Subcutaneously, at the arm | Caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, It infects the lungs, the brain membranes (meningitis) and continue to spread to other organs. Tuberculosis spread through air. It causes prolonged cough and bloody coughs/expectorations. |
| Diphteria (Chicken cough) | Diphteria-Pertussis-Tetanus-Haemophilus influenza type b-Polio Combinations (Dtap-IPV/Hib) | DTap/ HiB/ IPV injected into the thigh muscle (for children below 1 year old) or in the arm (For children older than 1 year old). | Caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphteriae, infecting the throat, leading to difficulty in breathing and death. It spreads through water droplets expelled during coughs or sneezing. Incubation period is between two to six days. |
| Tetanus (Lockjaw) | Diphteria-Pertussis-Tetanus-Haemophilus influenza type b-Polio combinations (Dtap-IPV/Hib) | DTap/ HiB/ IPV injected into the thigh muscle (for children below 1 year old) or in the arm (For children older than 1 year old). | Caused by Clostridium tetani leading to muscle spasms especially in the neck and jaw.. |
| Pertussis (Whooping cough) | Diphteria-Pertussis-Tetanus-Haemophilus influenza type b-Polio combinations (Dtap-IPV/Hib) | DTap/ HiB/ IPV injected into the thigh muscle (for children below 1 year old) or in the arm (For children older than 1 year old). | Infection causes severe and prolonged cough. It is spread through water droplets during coughs or sneezing. |
| Polio | Diphteria-Pertussis-Tetanus-Haemophilus influenza type b-Polio combinations (Dtap-IPV/Hib) | DTap/ HiB/ IPV injected into the thigh muscle (for children below 1 year old) or in the arm (For children older than 1 year old). | Caused by the polio virus, children will suffer paralysis. The virus attacks the nervous system. It spreads fecal-orally, through mucous or saliva of infected persons. |
| Haemophilus influenza type b | Diphteria-Pertussis-Tetanus-Haemophilus influenza type b-Polio combinations (Dtap-IPV/Hib) | DTap/ HiB/ IPV injected into the thigh muscle (for children below 1 year old) or in the arm (For children older than 1 year old). | Imitates cold fever but these bacteria can spread to the lungs (causing pneumonia), and to the brain, causing meningitis. |
| Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B | Injection into the thigh muscle | A chronic disease leading to liver damage and cancer due to hepatitis B virus infection. It spreads through sexual contact, pregnancy (mother to child), instrument sharing such as needles among drug abusers, shaving blades, tattooing needle, earlobe puncturing etc. |
| Mumps | Measles-Mumps-Rubella(MMR) Vaccine combination | Injection into the thigh muscle | Immitating cold fever but these bacteria can go airborne when the patient coughs. It causes swelling of the parotid glands (a salivary gland in front of and below the ears). Incubation period is between 14 and 21 days. |
| Measles | Measles-Mumps-Rubella(MMR) Vaccine combination | Injection into the thigh muscle | Infection causes fever and rashes. Virus can spread to the brain, lungs and the inner ear. Virus spreads through air when the patient coughs or sneezes. |
| Rubella | Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine combination | Injection into the thigh muscle | Infection causes fever and rashes, the disease is milder than measles. Rubella infection during pregnancy can cause congenital defects to the baby in the womb. |
| Cervical cancer | HPV vaccine | Injection into the thigh/arm muscle | An estimated 70% of cervical cancer occurrence is caused by HPV 16 and HPV 18. Immunisation will prevent these two HPV viruses from infecting women and thus protecting them from the worst complication of the infection i.e: cervical cancer. |
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 lates immunization schedule is as provided below:
The National Immunisation Schedule for Children from birth to 15 years of age
“YOUR CHILDREN DESERVE THE BEST. PROTECT THEM WITH IMMUNISATION”
Note: The schedule has been updated to so that the MMR vaccine can be administered at 9 months and 12 months. Refer here for more information http://www.infosihat.gov.my/infosihat/media/Poster/I/index.php
Lai Siew Shyuan is a pharmacist, working in a government hospital in Malacca.
Reference:
- http://www.infosihat.gov.my/infosihat/media/garis_panduan/I/pdf/03_imunisasiKanak_BM.pdf
- http://www.myhealth.gov.my/
[This article belongs to The Malaysian Medical Gazette. Any republication (online or offline) without written permission from The Malaysian Medical Gazette is prohibited.]