The Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA), disclosed to The Sun Daily newspaper that the nation is facing an epidemic of sorts as there is a significant increase in childhood diseases around the nation.

MPA data for 2022 revealed that cases of pertussis (whooping cough), jumped more than 800 percent, diphtheria increased by 80 percent and measles witnessed a 63 percent increase, which has raised the concern of medical professionals.

The rise in cases of vaccine preventable childhood diseases in the country follows the Covid 19 pandemic and experts concur that even a small decline in vaccination rates could disrupt herd immunity.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s public health medicine division attributed the decline in vaccination rates to the diversion of resources and the focus shifting to the management and treatment of the Covid 19 pandemic.

During this period, the cessation of routine immunisation programmes and the temporary closure of clinics and healthcare centres led to a significant decrease in access to vaccines as the steady process of vaccinations ceased.

This has caused a decrease in the levels of immunity among the population causing people to be more susceptible to diseases and the loss of herd immunity has resulted in widespread transmission among the community.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE