ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government will discuss this Thursday whether or not to subsidise the Qdenga (TAK-003) dengue vaccine, especially for residents in dengue hotspots.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said although the government's priority was to intensify efforts to combat dengue, it also realised that the cost of the dengue vaccines in private hospitals and clinics – in excess of RM250 – was rather steep.
"The vaccine shot is not compulsory, but those who want to take the vaccine as a preventive measure, especially those in dengue-prone or high-risk areas, are encouraged to do so. Currently, there are no public subsidy programmes for the dengue vaccine in Johor.
"However, a discussion will be held on Thursday, and we expect to come to a decision on whether or not to subsidise the vaccine shots," he said at the state-level National Environment Day (HASN 2024) celebration held at Sireh Park here, today.
The number of dengue cases in Johor remains a concern. While cases peaked at over 400 per week in the first quarter, they have dropped to around 150 a week, in recent months.
He said enhanced enforcement and community efforts, including clean-up campaigns, contributed to the drop in numbers. However, with the upcoming monsoon season, Ling said health authorities were concerned.
"We recently allocated RM250,000 for initiatives like Wolbachia mosquito releases and targeted outdoor spraying to destroy dengue breeding grounds," he added.
Meanwhile, Ling said the Johor leg of the National Environment Day celebrations at Sireh Park saw a series of environmental initiatives, with over 500 participants.
The state-wide programmes, launched three months ago, included coastal and river clean-ups, recycling initiatives, and educational campaigns aimed at fostering environmental stewardship. A variety of interesting activities were held at the HASN 2024 opening ceremony, such as an eco-trail fun walk, the release of fish seedlings, a children's colouring competition, an e-waste and recycled goods collection programme, an environmental exhibition, and a tree planting programme, among others.
Ling said the educational campaigns organised at Johor schools aimed at educating future generations on the importance of sustainability.
"We want to foster a deep appreciation for our environment among the youth. While awareness is growing, challenges like littering, remain. Collaborative school programmes, backed by the Johor Environment Department (DoE), are actively addressing these issues, which are aimed at instilling environmental responsibility within schools."
Aligned with Johor's goal of achieving a developed status by 2030 under its Johor Maju roadmap, the state's sustainability agenda prioritises both infrastructure growth and environmental preservation.
"We want Johor not only to develop, but to do so sustainably. Our Johor environmental sustainability plan supports this vision," he said, adding that the plan was to preserve green spaces and promote sustainable practices.