IT IS up to the Health Ministry to decide if infants should be vaccinated as a preventive measure against acute gastroenteritis (AGE), said Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.
“I trust the ministry will make the best decision” he said, adding that the vaccination was given to babies in the United States.
It was reported that currently two vaccines available in the market were found to be highly effective and safe in the prevention of rotavirus infection in infants.
Dr Mah added that the cost-effectiveness of the vaccines have yet to be determined.
Good hygiene, however, was the best way to keep such viruses at bay, he said, adding that patients should seek treatment early to prevent them from succumbing to its symptoms such as prolonged diarrhoea, vomiting and high fever.
Dr Mah also said the rotavirus was responsible for between 20% and 30% of AGE cases, especially among children aged two and below.
Universiti Malaya Medical Centre Paediatrics Department head Prof Dr Lee Way Seah encouraged parents with infants, aged six months and below to consider vaccination.
Over 3,200 AGE cases, including deaths of two infants in Hutan Melintang, were reported in Hilir Perak and Batang Padang districts since the outbreak on Jan 27.
The rotavirus was responsible for between 20% and 30% of AGE cases, especially among children aged two and below. - DATUK DR MAH HANG SOON
Rotavirus was suspected to be the cause of AGE outbreak but tests for it on water samples taken in Batang Padang were negative whereas results of water samples taken from Hilir Perak were yet to be released.
While the mystery behind the AGE outbreak continued, Prof Dr Lee said parents should from time to time be wary of the severity of the virus.
“The virus infection would cause excessive dehydration,” he said, adding that it could be fatal, especially to children, if immediate treatment was not given to the sufferers.
He said the rotavirus vaccines, both to be taken orally, could prevent or reduce the severity of infection and induce antibody production in the recipient body against the virus.
Prof Dr Lee, who is also a paediatric gastroenterologist, said practising strict personal hygiene alone would not fully prevent the rotavirus from being transmitted into the body as it is highly infectious in nature.
“The uptake of vaccines among Malaysian infants has been low even though they were introduced in the country some three years ago,” he said.
He added that they could be found in paediatrician clinics, private hospitals and some general practitioner clinics but not in over-the-counter pharmacies.
“Prices of the vaccines varied but are considerably affordable for middle-income families,” he said.
Prof Dr Lee hoped the Government would consider including rotavirus vaccines in the National Immunisation programme in order to benefit the general public as a whole.--TheStar Online
No comments:
Post a Comment