Prevention Better Than Cure Get Your Flu Jabs Elderly Folk Advised

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The health ministry is giving out free vaccinations against the flu for senior citizens suffering from diabetes, respiratory illnesses, heart disease, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia or chronic kidney disease.
PETALING JAYA: Health groups have urged Malaysians aged 60 and above to get vaccinated against influenza, saying prevention against the illness is better than cure.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said older folk were at higher risk of experiencing complications from influenza, which may even include death, and managing them was bound to be costly.
“Hence, it would be wise to take precautions. We advise, in particular, all older persons 60 and above to get vaccinated as it offers significant protection against hospitalisation and death from the flu,” he told FMT.
Azrul Khalib, CEO of health think tank Galen Centre, said it was the right of each individual to refuse vaccination, but pointed out that they would be protecting themselves and those around them by taking the shot.
“People will get the flu, but you can now limit its severity and prevent yourself and your loved ones from suffering and needing to be hospitalised.
“Why not invest in a jab, and prevent this from happening?” he said, adding that not everyone had strong immune systems that are capable of protecting them from complications.
The health ministry is giving out free vaccinations against the flu for senior citizens suffering from at least one chronic disease— diabetes, respiratory illnesses, heart disease, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia or chronic kidney disease.
The voluntary initiative begins on Feb 18, and is expected to benefit more than 170,000 senior citizens across the country.
In 2023, pneumonia was the leading cause of death among Malaysians, claiming 18,181 lives. It was the first time in 20 years that pneumonia overtook ischaemic heart disease as the principal cause of death, except in 2021 when it was surpassed by Covid-19.
However, the health ministry’s move was met with some apprehension and scepticism online, with netizens questioning the safety of the vaccines and forgoing the jabs.
Distrust towards jabs concerning
Azrul and Kalwinder said vaccine hesitancy has always been concerning as it breeds doubt in the community and hinders the health ministry’s efforts to safeguard public health.
Azrul said it was no longer sufficient to counter “bad information” with “good information”. He said public health professionals and health workers must learn to be better health communicators.
“They need to learn to work with the media, explore and utilise different communication platforms such as TikTok and Facebook, and be willing to be questioned and challenged on issues to address concerns, worries and scepticism,” he said.
Kalwinder said Putrajaya needs to use every available platform to educate Malaysians on the evidence-based benefits of being immunised against the flu, insisting that the evidence was “overwhelming”.
“This needs to be communicated in an easily understood format,” he said. “But from the high demand that can be seen for the flu vaccine, we believe most Malaysians trust the science.” - FMT

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