Materia Medica Malaysiana

Minister: Effects from second vaccine dose only temporary

PETALING JAYA: The effects from the second dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are only temporary, affecting children for a short period, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.

He said the ministry would continue with the Mass Immunisation Measles Campaign, as its benefits were greater than the side effects.

Dr Chua also said the second MMR dose given under the campaign, aimed to boost the children’s immunity system, would not cause any harm to the their health in the long run.

He said out of 650,000 children immunised to date under this campaign, only 15 have complained of fever and rashes.

“This is a small group reacting to the injections compared to the large number of children benefiting from the campaign,” said Dr Chua yesterday.

He was asked to respond to Consumers Association of Penang’s (CAP) concern over the ministry’s campaign, which began this month.

CAP had urged the authorities to carry out a proper evaluation before conducting the campaign involving 4.5 million school children aged between seven and 15.

It stated that soon after the vaccine came into use, there was a new problem where children contracted atypical measles, a more serious form of the disease that might not respond to treatment.

Dr Chua also said CAP should not “be so negative” as it confuses the public.