SHAH ALAM, Nov 18 — The state’s free influenza vaccination programme for schoolchildren aged eight and below is not mandatory and requires parental consent, the State Legislative Assembly heard today.
State executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said consent must be given either through schools or the SELangkah mobile app.
"All state agencies have a role to play to educate the public about (the importance of) taking the vaccine. Schools will also publicise it, and the state government will distribute leaflets.
"However, we cannot force parents to take the vaccine (for their children)," she said when responding to a supplementary question from Rawang state assemblyman Chua Wei Kiat on vaccine phobia among the public.
Jamaliah added that while some fear persists, it is not as widespread as during the Covid-19 vaccination period, as the influenza vaccine has been available for much longer.
The state government rolled out the Selangor Children’s Vaccination Programme (Selvaksin) last Monday (November 10) to address the increasingly worrying spread of influenza.
The initiative offers free influenza vaccinations to high-risk children as an early preventive measure to safeguard the health of young people in the state.
A total of RM1 million has been allocated for 15,000 to 20,000 doses, benefiting about 8,000 children.
She said the programme is open to children aged eight and below with at least one comorbidity or chronic illness. Recipients must also be from B40 households with a monthly income of RM5,250 or less and have resided in the state for at least 10 years.
The programme is targeted at the Petaling, Klang, Gombak, and Hulu Langat districts due to the high number of cases there.
When asked whether the programme would be expanded to more groups or extended into next year, Jamaliah said it would depend on demand and the situation at that time.
