Gov't buying A (H1N1) vaccine for frontliners
Published: Jul 14, 2009 10:42 AM | Updated: Jul 14, 2009 10:46 AM
Malaysia is discussing with several international pharmaceutical companies on acquiring the Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine for the 200,000 frontliners working at the country's 53 entry and exit
points.
Malaysia is discussing with several international pharmaceutical companies on acquiring the Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine for the 200,000 frontliners working at the country's 53 entry and exit
points.
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said today the workers concerned needed to be vaccinated to prevent the them from being infected with the virus following the latest announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the pandemic was now unstoppable.
"We are now in the midst of ordering the vaccine so that when it's in the market, we'll be among the first to get it," he said, adding that the government was in discussions with pharmaceutical companies supplying the vaccine from, among others, the United States and Europe.
"When the vaccine is ready, details such as dosage will be announced," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
He said that currently, the frontliners were given seasonal flu vaccine containing components from the influenza A (H3N2), influenza A (H1N1) and influenza B virus on an annual basis since 2007.
The vaccine did not protect them from the current H1N1 strain but helped screen for potential cases, he added.
Malaysia's frontliners comprise civil servants under the category of health and medical personnel, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Civil Defence Department, the Armed Forces, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Immigration Department.
32 new cases reported
On the latest flu status in Malaysia, Liow said there were 32 cases reported in the country as at 8am today - 20 imported and 12 locally transmitted.
"This brings the total number of cases in Malaysia to 804. Of the total, 696 or 86 percent have recovered, 77 are undergoing home quarantine and another 31 patients are being treated in the hospital," he said.
Liow said that the Standard 2 Nilam class of Sekolah Kebangsaan Intan Baiduri Gombak has been closed following the spread of the pandemic while Sekolah Rendah Sultan Sulaiman 1, Kuala Terengganu, and Form 4 Jaya of Sekolah Menengah Aminuddin Baki Kuala Lumpur would remain closed until tomorrow
The minister was speaking to reporters after launching the Epidemic Intelligence Programme (EIP) Malaysia 3rd Cohort Graduation in Kuala Lumpur.
Earlier, in his speech, Liow said Malaysia needed more experts in the epidemiological field to handle pandemics like A(H1N1).
The EIP Malaysia, he said, was an important programme in training more experts in the field to boost disease control measures in the country.
points.
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said today the workers concerned needed to be vaccinated to prevent the them from being infected with the virus following the latest announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the pandemic was now unstoppable.
"We are now in the midst of ordering the vaccine so that when it's in the market, we'll be among the first to get it," he said, adding that the government was in discussions with pharmaceutical companies supplying the vaccine from, among others, the United States and Europe. "When the vaccine is ready, details such as dosage will be announced," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
He said that currently, the frontliners were given seasonal flu vaccine containing components from the influenza A (H3N2), influenza A (H1N1) and influenza B virus on an annual basis since 2007.
The vaccine did not protect them from the current H1N1 strain but helped screen for potential cases, he added.
Malaysia's frontliners comprise civil servants under the category of health and medical personnel, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Civil Defence Department, the Armed Forces, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Immigration Department.
32 new cases reported
On the latest flu status in Malaysia, Liow said there were 32 cases reported in the country as at 8am today - 20 imported and 12 locally transmitted.
"This brings the total number of cases in Malaysia to 804. Of the total, 696 or 86 percent have recovered, 77 are undergoing home quarantine and another 31 patients are being treated in the hospital," he said.
Liow said that the Standard 2 Nilam class of Sekolah Kebangsaan Intan Baiduri Gombak has been closed following the spread of the pandemic while Sekolah Rendah Sultan Sulaiman 1, Kuala Terengganu, and Form 4 Jaya of Sekolah Menengah Aminuddin Baki Kuala Lumpur would remain closed until tomorrow
The minister was speaking to reporters after launching the Epidemic Intelligence Programme (EIP) Malaysia 3rd Cohort Graduation in Kuala Lumpur.
Earlier, in his speech, Liow said Malaysia needed more experts in the epidemiological field to handle pandemics like A(H1N1).
The EIP Malaysia, he said, was an important programme in training more experts in the field to boost disease control measures in the country.
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