Melaka To Launch 10-week Measles-Rubella Supplementary Immunisation Drive From Aug 4

MELAKA, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- The Melaka government will carry out the Measles-Rubella Supplementary Immunisation Activity through the Health Department over 10 weeks starting Aug 4, to curb the rising number of measles cases in the state.

State Health, Human Resources and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said the supplementary Measles-Rubella vaccine will be provided free of charge to all babies and children aged six to 59 months, those born between Aug 1, 2020, and Jan 31 this year, regardless of nationality. The campaign is expected to cover more than 46,000 children.

He said the vaccine will be administered at all health clinics, rural clinics and Malaysian Armed Forces health centres via walk-ins, appointments or through the MySejahtera app, as well as through outreach activities at selected locations.

“A total of 38 measles cases have been recorded in Melaka so far this year, translating to an incidence rate of 36.3 per million population between the first and 30th epidemiological week. This compares with 74 recorded for the whole of last year.

“This outbreak is also occurring across Malaysia, resulting in the country failing to meet the World Health Organisation’s measles elimination target, which is fewer than one case per million population and no outbreaks recorded in the current year,” he told reporters here last night.

He was speaking after the Healthy Lungs Operation, held in conjunction with the enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which was also attended by state Health Department director Dr Ruzita Mustaffa.

Ngwe said the rise in measles cases in Melaka is believed to stem from several factors, including immunity gaps among children who missed the Measles-Rubella vaccination, particularly migrants, as well as high population mobility, given Melaka’s status as a tourist destination.

He said the supplementary vaccination programme is a crucial intervention to close these immunity gaps and prevent such outbreaks, particularly in areas with low coverage, to ensure comprehensive immunity among children.

-- BERNAMA