Malaysia Vaccination Programme

Hi Dr. Jason,

I just come across your blog which i find very informative.
I've just delivered a baby boy last month. I'd like to seek for your advice regarding the injections like Pneumococcal, Rotavirus & Influenza, do you think it's a must to get these vaccines? As I know the first two ( Pneumococcal & Rotavirus ) are more common and Pneumococcal is not cheap/dose.

Another question is how come the dose given might different from Dr. to Dr.? For instance, Pneumococcal some only need 2 doses, some even 4 doses and period of time given also different. Can I have your explanation on these?

Any more extra informations you would wanna share? Thanks in advance!

Waiting for your reply. Have a nice day!

From : Yvonne

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Hi! YvonneL,

Attached below the tables of the standard Malaysia Vaccination programme:

Malaysia - Mandatory
Age	Vaccine	Immunisation Against
Birth	BCG Hep B	Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine Hepatitis B vaccine
2 months	Hep B DTP / Hib / Polio	Hepatitis B vaccine Diphtheria and tetanus toxoid, pertussis vaccine Haemophilus influenzae vaccine Oral Polio vaccine
3 months	Hep B DTP / Hib / Polio	Hepatitis B vaccine Diphtheria and tetanus toxoid, pertussis vaccine Haemophilus influenzae vaccine Oral Polio vaccine
5 months	Hep B DTP / Hib / Polio	Hepatitis B vaccine Diphtheria and tetanus toxoid, pertussis vaccine Haemophilus influenzae vaccine Oral Polio vaccine
1 year	MMR	Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine
18 months	DTP / Hib / Polio	Diphtheria and tetanus toxoid, pertussis vaccine Haemophilus influenzae vaccine Oral Polio vaccine

Malaysia - Recommended
Age	Immunisation Against
2 months	Rotavirus Pneumococcal C
3 months	Rotavirus Pneumococcal C
5 months	Pneumococcal C
6 months	Influenza (annually)
1 year	Chicken Pox Pneumococcal C
2 years	Pneumococcal P Hepatitis A
2.5 years	Hepatitis A

It is compulsory for the baby to undergo mandatory vaccination as stated in the table 1.

The pneumococcal and rotavirus are categorised in the table 2 as the optional and recommended vaccination.

Both pneumococcal and rotavirus are not available in the government health clinic.

The parents need to obtain the injection in the private clinic with the cost range from RM 220- RM 250 per injection for pneumococcal and RM 150 per injection for Rotavirus.

Pneumococcal is associated with lung infection, ear infection and brain infection of the newborn.

Rotavirus infection is associated with severe infant diarrhoea and vomitting.

The number of injection of pneumococcal is depent on how soon the baby starts its injection.

If the baby starts its injection from 2 months, he/she will require 4 injections. If the injection is started after 1 year old, he/she will only need 2 injections.

However, the earlier you start the pneumococcal injection, the earlier baby will receive the protection from the pneumococcal infection.

Dr Jason

Chinese Translation :

BCG –肺痨

Hepatitis B - B型肝炎

DTP -白喉 / 破伤风 /百日咳

HiB -脑膜炎

Polio - 脊髓灰质炎

MMR -麻疹 / 风疹 / 咀嚼

Pneumococcal - 肺炎

Rotavirus -轮状病毒