DR RAKHEE YADAV, Resident Consultant Paediatrician and Head of the Department of Paediatrics at Ara Damansara Medical Centre, and Chair of the KL Subcommittee of the Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA).
Childhood vaccines or immunisations can seem overwhelming when you are a new parent. But it’s important to understand that your young child is most vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases because they have not had the chance to fully develop their immune systems.
Vaccines help train and strengthen your child’s immune system to protect them from potentially life-threatening complications. With the 6-in-1 Hexavalent vaccine that covers these 6 diseases: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B and Hepatitis B, parents can stress less about their child’s immunisation schedule.
Here, Dr Rakhee Yadav shares her answers to some of the most frequently asked questions by parents.
KEEP UP THE BIG 6 FIGHT is a public education effort by the Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA), Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and Malaysian Family Medicine Specialists’ Association (FMSA) reminding parents to protect their young children from 6 life-threatening diseases with the 6-in-1 Hexavalent vaccine in the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
PARENT: Is vaccination really that necessary for our children?
DR RAKHEE: Yes, vaccines are crucial in this day and age for young children. Simply put, vaccination protects against serious infectious diseases. Once we have been immunised, our bodies are better able to fight off diseases that we come into contact with. 1 In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said: `The two public health interventions that have the greatest impact on the world’s health are clean water and vaccines’.1
PARENT: I’ve heard from my doctor and friends about the 6-in-1 vaccine for infants. What is it? How is it good for my babies?
DR RAKHEE: The Hexavalent 6-in-1 vaccine allows parents like yourselves the opportunity for your infants and young children to be protected from 6 life-threatening infectious vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs), namely Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B and Hepatitis B.
These 6 diseases are deadly and can easily cause illness, disability or death in our young children if they are not vaccinated against the diseases. Hence our public education campaign – KEEP UP THE BIG 6 FIGHT – which is a reminder to continue fighting these 6 diseases for the overall safety and general health of our children and the community as a whole.
PARENT: How will just 1 vaccine protect my baby from as many as 6 diseases?
DR RAKHEE: It’s a simple process with a clear timeframe for parents to keep track of. The 6-in-1 vaccine is administered in a total of 5 shots, including the Hepatitis B dose at birth, to protect a child from all 6 diseases. This reduction (to just 5 injections) means fewer trips to the clinic for parents who may be nervous about bringing their children too many times to the clinic. The Ministry of Health (MoH) Malaysia had introduced the Hexavalent vaccine to the latest paediatric schedule on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) since 17 November, 2020.2 In this NIP schedule, young children will receive 3 primary doses at 2, 3 and 5 months of age, and an additional booster at 18 months.3
PARENT: Why must babies be vaccinated so early? I worry about giving my 2-month-old baby an injection!
DR RAKHEE: Many of these diseases can be particularly serious in young infants. It is important to ensure babies are protected as early as possible to prevent them from catching a VPD.1 Unprotected young children are the most susceptible to infection. Diseases such as pertussis (whooping cough) that are contagious can be deadly for babies and young children, especially in communities with low vaccination rates.4
PARENT: Is it safe? How long will the protection last for?
DR RAKHEE: Parents, you need not worry! Large-scale clinical trials, studies and research in countries worldwide have proven the efficacy and safety of the Hexavalent vaccine.5 Also, WHO statistics show as of 20 October 2020, 49 countries globally have added the Hexavalent vaccine to their respective NIPs.5 Clinical studies have demonstrated good persistence of antibodies to each of the antigens in the Hexavalent vaccine up to pre-school age (3.5-4.5 years of age) that result in long-term persistent protection for the children vaccinated, irrespective of the vaccination schedule during the first 2 years of life.6
PARENT: We try our best for our babies to be vaccinated on schedule. But sometimes we miss the shots. Is it okay to skip?
DR RAKHEE: As doctors, we understand your challenges as parents. Whilst we realise many young children have missed their vaccinations in recent times, this is not encouraged as children’s lives are at greater risk without timely vaccinations. If children miss their appointments for a scheduled vaccination dose, parents will receive a call from nurses at the Klinik Kesihatan.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that every child continue with his or her doctor visits and regular routine vaccination post the COVID-19 pandemic.4 As stated by the CDC, keeping up with routine vaccinations would be one of the best things a parent can do to protect child and community from serious diseases that are easily spread.4
PARENT: How much will this cost my family?
DR RAKHEE: The Hexavalent 6-in-1 vaccine is available to all Malaysian families without cost in our NIP. You may refer above for the latest 2022 NIP of childhood vaccines, highlighting the 6-in-1 vaccine.
PARENT: Where do I go for my kids to get a first dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine?
DR RAKHEE: You may check at your closest Klinik Kesihatan by asking for the 6-in-1 childhood vaccine listed in the NIP. The Hexavalent 6-in-1 vaccine is also available at a certain price at private medical clinics/hospitals.
References:
1.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/990473/PHE_11490_IMM_Up_to_one_year_A5_booklet_April_2021.pdf
2. https://kpkesihatan.com/2020/11/17/kenyataan-akhbar-kpk-17-november-2020-pertukaran-jadual-imunisasi-kebangsaan-untuk kanak-kanak-susulan-pertukaran-kepada-vaksin-enam-serangkai-difteria-tetanus-pertussis-polio-hepatitis-b/
3. https://immunise4life.my/the-malaysian-national-immunisation-programme-nip/
4. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/visit/vaccination-during-COVID-19.html
5. https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2020/11/30/more-education-needed-to-win-over-vaccine-cautious-parents-say-malaysian-pa/1927440
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30513252/
