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LANGKAWI, February 24 – The Ministry of Health will present a proposal and a policy to make vaccination mandatory.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad, quoted by the national news agency Bernama, said: "I will take the case to the post-ministerial meeting of the Ministry of Health. If supported, it will be brought before the Cabinet.
"I believe that there will be arguments for and against the proposal and that the ministry will consider all opinions seriously."
Dzulkefly's comments come after the death of a child of Johor Baru, who has severe diphtheria on Thursday.
The case of the two-year-old child is the latest one involving unvaccinated children succumbing to preventable infections.
In a statement released yesterday, Datuk's general manager of health, Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, said it was the only confirmed case of diphtheria registered this year so far.
He noted however that in 2018, four children died of diphtheria because they had not been immunized against the disease.
"In 2018, in 18 cases, five had resulted in death, involving children under 10 years. Four of the five deaths were not vaccinated, "he said.
Dr. Noor Hisham also urged parents to ensure that their children are vaccinated and that those who have not been vaccinated or who have missed their vaccine receive an update of their vaccination.
"The ministry recommends to the public to be wary of infectious diseases that can be prevented by vaccination, such as diphtheria, measles, whooping cough and others," he added.
Diphtheria is caused by the infection of Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium that causes a sore throat, a thick gray membrane covering the back of the throat and swollen tonsils.
It could also lead to complications such as blood and heart infections that can lead to death.
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