Health ministry plans to meet with anti-vaccine groups

The health ministry plans to meet with anti-vaccine groups to provide them with facts and information on Covid-19 vaccines, based on authentic clinical studies, the Dewan Negara was told today.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said he could help arrange the meeting which would also involve Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

“I would like to suggest that these groups meet us. We can have a talk about it (vaccination).

“Do not spread fake news (about Covid-19 vaccines) as they (those who spread fake news) may end up facing action from KKMM (the communications and multimedia ministry),” he said during a question-and-answer session.

He was replying to a question from Dr Wan Martina Wan Yusoff on the government’s action against anti-vaxxers who have, among others, exploited data on the CovidNow portal to influence others against taking the vaccines.

Noor Azmi said the groups had not been given a clear explanation of the Covid-19 vaccines, adding that the decision to carry out the vaccination programme was made aftar taking into account the results of studies that were conducted locally and abroad.

He said the health ministry had previously stated that vaccination was not a cure for Covid-19 although it could help boost the immune system to fight the virus.

On the implementation of Covid-19 booster shots, he said there were studies showing that immunity against the virus might wane six months after receiving the vaccine.