No vaccines for babies in Perak

NST: IPOH: Babies brought in for triple antigen shots in the State are being turned away from government clinics because of a shortage of the vaccine.
It could not be ascertained how bad the shortage was, but a random check of several government clinics here showed that at least three had run out.
One had run out in May and two others early this month. Staff at other clinics declined to comment on their stock.
Triple antigen is a combination of three vaccines against diptheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus. The vaccination is given free of charge to babies aged over three months under the National Immunisation Programme.
Karanjit Kaur, 28, who has a six-month-old son, said: "I was asked to leave my contact number and the clinic staff said they would call when the vaccine became available."
The shortage was brought to the attention of the New Straits Times by Perak People’s Progressive Party deputy chairman Naran Singh yesterday.
He said several close acquaintances, who had taken their babies to a government clinic in Simee, had rung him up because they were told the triple antigen was not available.
State Health, Science and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Tan Ching Meng said he was not aware of a shortage of any vaccine.
He said he would have to meet with State Health Department officials before making any comments.