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KUALA LUMPUR: Are you still skeptical about the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine and its ability to help save millions of lives each year?
Do you know that the country has successfully implemented various immunization programs, for example against polio and chickenpox, over the past seven decades?
According to scientist Ts. Dr. Ummirul Mukmimin Kahar of the National Institutes of Biotechnology of Malaysia (NIBM), the National Immunization Scheme has saved the lives of two to three million Malaysians each year from various diseases through vaccination.
In Malaysia, the National Immunization Plan was introduced in the early 1950s. The service is free to protect children from tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, papillomavirus human and Japanese encephalitis.
“For your information, Malaysia was recognized as polio-free around 2010 by the WHO (World Health Organization) and this recognition is a great success for the National Immunization Plan,” he told Bernama in an interview via the Zoom app today.
In addition, he said, polio has been successfully eradicated on three continents, including the Americas, Europe and the Western Pacific region.
Reflecting on the success of the vaccine, Ummirul cited smallpox as an example, saying that the disease, which had a high death rate and the effects of scarring or blindness, had been successfully eradicated worldwide in 1980.
“The examples I mentioned above show that the vaccination process has managed to significantly reduce the death rate due to vaccine prevention.
“Immunization has made the world safer by saving millions of lives from infection with these preventable diseases. Without vaccines, the WHO estimates the loss of two to three million lives from vaccine-preventable infections, ”he said.
The WHO database so far records that there are more than 20 types of vaccines that have been successfully produced and saved millions of lives each year.
So, Ummirul said, the evidence shows that the community doesn’t have to worry about getting vaccinated, even if it’s for new diseases.
Commonly used vaccines have been around for decades, and millions of people receive them safely each year.
He stressed that like all medicines, all vaccines have been thoroughly tested to ensure they are safe before they can be introduced into the country.
“Generally, vaccines will first be tested in animals to assess their safety and their potential to prevent disease. Its effectiveness and safety are then tested in human clinical trials under the supervision of certain organisms according to strict standards such as the CDC (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the United States, and also WHO.
“In Malaysia, the Ministry of Health (MOH), through the NPRA (National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency), conducts extensive research and testing before approving a vaccine and must meet the three main characteristics: safe, effective and stable. “, said. .
NPRA also closely monitors all reports of side effects, especially those related to vaccines, and is in constant communication with manufacturers, the WHO and also similar regulatory bodies around the world, he said.
As for the Covid-19 vaccine, he said, although there were reports of allergic reactions to recipients after being vaccinated, the vaccine was not the cause of the allergic reactions.
Mild side effects from the Covid-19 vaccine include redness or pain where the shot is given, but these will recover in two to three days.
“So people don’t have to worry about getting the vaccine,” he said.
Commenting on the anti-vaccine group that continues to instill suspicion in the community to not receive vaccines, including the Covid-19 vaccine, Ummirul advised the public to seek verified sources and information to end the apprehensions.
Among them are the website or social media platforms of the Special Committee for the Guarantee of Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supplies, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as the Office of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs).
“Together, the benefits of immunization outweigh the known and studied risks. The impact of vaccination will not be seen in a short time.
“It takes a period of time until we can vaccinate several people in the community to see a reduction in the number of infections. Together we must take the vaccine to protect our families, friends and everyone around us (and we can) by protecting ourselves first, ”he added. -Called
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