KLANG, Jan 11 — The Health ministry is still studying the efficacy of the world’s first dengue vaccine before making a decision on whether to licence its use in the country.
Minister Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam said a committee of experts was carrying out a study from various aspects, including the possible effects on target groups, using all data available on the vaccine.
“In Malaysia, people from the age of 20 to 40 are getting dengue. From the data gathered, the vaccine only protects those aged between nine and 18 years.
So we can see some gaps in the protection.
“Due to that, we are not sure whether the vaccine will solve the dengue problem,” he told a press conference after launching a ‘Back to School’ programme at the Simpang Lima Tamil school here today.
The world’s first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxi, was approved in Mexico and the Philippines became the first Asian country to allow its sale.
Commenting on the conversion issue of the children of Kindergarten teacher M. Indira Gandhi, Dr Subramaniam said the three-member Cabinet committee, including himself, was looking into all avenues to resolve the matter amicably.
Dr Subramaniam, who is MIC president, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had asked a few ministers “to speak to Attorney General to find a solution to the issue, and we have met.”
The appellate court had overturned on technical grounds a High Court decision quashing the unilateral conversion of Indira’s three children by her now Muslim ex-husband.
The Court ruled that matters of conversion, and whether or not someone is a Muslim, is the sole jurisdiction of the shariah courts. — Bernama
