KUALA LUMPUR: There will be a change in the vaccination schedule for children at health clinics nationwide under the national immunisation programme.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham said the amendment to the schedule was because the vaccine administered has been switched to one that gave immunisation against six diseases instead of five.
It provides immunity against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type B and hepatitis B.
He said the changes to the schedule would be carried out in stages starting this month.
Four doses of the vaccine is given to children. The initial dose is given for infants at the age of 2 months and the booster shot is given to those aged 18 months.
"As the vaccine incorporates immunisation for hepatitis B there is would no longer a requirement for children to be given separate shots of the vaccine," Dr Noor Hisham added.
The vaccine which is being phased out now has been in use in Malaysia since 2008. It provides immunity against five diseases; diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type B.
Three doses of the vaccine are required with an initial dose given at 2 months, and the booster given at 18 months.
Dr Noor Hisham said that while the new schedule no longer included shots for one month and six month old children, parents were, however, required to follow timelines for routine paediatric check ups to chart their children's growth during the stipulated ages.
The schedule has been underlined in the record book for infant and toddler health from the ages of 0 to 6.
Meanwhile, he urged parents to follow the immunisation schedules set by the ministry.
"If they have missed out on any immunisation, please bring your children to the nearest public or private clinics to have their schedules redrawn."
Attached is the new vaccination schedule.
Parents can call the ministry at 03-8883 4042/03-8883 4504 for enquiries.