Providing free and timely vaccinations should take priority over new cars for ministers or flying cars for that matter. FMTNews InfluenzaA
Our nation is now in the throes of an increasingly serious influenza epidemic. In early December last year, the prime minister’s wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, warned of the seriousness of the influenza threat and called for a large-scale immunisation programme.
In the first place, while the government kept encouraging everyone to get vaccinated, it made no effort to ensure that there were sufficient vaccines to meet demand. Although the health ministry insists there is no shortage, a check with local clinics indicates that the vaccines are largely unavailable in the Klang Valley. Most private clinics say that they are out of stock; some are predicting that fresh supplies won’t be available till at least April.
While it is understandable that priority be given to first-line defenders and officials performing essential services, it is unfair to leave the population at large at risk. Clearly, our health officials have screwed up big time in not anticipating the surge in demand and preparing for it. Given that the epidemic is a serious threat to the health of Malaysians, shouldn’t the government take immediate steps to provide free vaccinations at least to vulnerable groups like pregnant women, children under the age of five, adults aged 65 and above, as well as those with health problems such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease?
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