Misinformation about vaccines has led to a huge increase in vaccine-preventable diseases, with almost a 1,000% increase in the number of measles cases compared to five years ago.
The number of measles cases increased from 195 cases in 2013 to 1,934 cases in 2018
From the figures, cases of measles without immunisation increased to 1,467 cases (75.9%) last year from 125 cases (68.7%) in 2013
In 2018, there were recorded six measles deaths where all were not immunised, and five cases of diphtheria deaths where four did not receive immunisation.
There were 22 deaths from whooping cough (pertussis) where 19 cases had no vaccination.
Health Director General, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said it was discovered through social media that certain individuals who objected to vaccines had influenced other parents to join them.
“The irresponsible action posed a challenge to the ministry’s efforts, and as a result, infectious diseases that could be prevented with vaccines had increased,” he said.
The World Health Organization has identified vaccine rejection as one of the global health threats for 2019.
“The misinformation on vaccination was spread by those obsessed with the claim that vaccination and the National Immunisation Programme carried out by the government were of no benefit and resulted in negative effects. The claim is not accurate,” he said.
The number of rejections to vaccines in government clinics increased to 1,603 cases in 2016 from 637 cases in 2013.
However, the numbers dropped a little in 2017 – to 1,404 cases – following the Ministry’s widespread advocacy efforts done in collaboration with the private sector and medical social media volunteers, said Dr Noor Hisham.
“If people continue to reject vaccines, there is a likelihood that infectious diseases that could be prevented by vaccines will continue to increase, and all efforts will be futile,” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham said immunisation has been given free to Malaysian babies and children in government clinics since the 1950s.
Currently, the National Immunisation Programme is able to prevent 12 types of infectious diseases caused by certain bacteria and virus.
With the immunisation programme and improvement in health services, Malaysia successfully reduced the number of infant deaths by 85% from 1970 to 2017, from 55.9 deaths for every 1,000 live births to only 8.4 deaths for every 1,000 live births.
Immunisation has also eradicated smallpox worldwide while polio had been eradicated in Malaysia, he added.
/theSTAR 23-01-2019
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