Penang: Parents have been advised not to worry about bringing their children to get the Measles-Rubella (MR) Supplementary Immunisation, which is being conducted by the Penang State Health Department (JKN) from Aug 4 to Oct 12. State Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Si Zen emphasized the importance of the immunisation for children aged six to 59 months or those born between Aug 1, 2020, and Jan 31, 2025.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Measles-Rubella Supplementary Immunisation Activity (MR SIA) aims to protect children from serious complications associated with these highly contagious diseases, such as pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures, and potentially death. Gooi urged parents and guardians to promptly bring their eligible children for the free MR vaccine to enhance early protection and prevent disease spread.

The initiative, which aligns with the national campaign, seeks to boost herd immunity and support the goal of eliminating measles by 2030. National statistics reveal a significant rise in cases last year, with 3,791 cases compared to 2,002 cases in 2023, including three deaths in 2024 involving unvaccinated children.

In Penang, 84 cases were recorded in 2024, a substantial increase from 20 cases the previous year. This year, as of July 26, 24 cases have been reported, with nearly half attributed to incomplete immunisation status. The JKN targets 65,500 children for the MR SIA programme in Penang, but by Aug 19, only 19,600 children, or 29.92 percent, had received the additional immunisation.

Gooi stressed the need to intensify efforts to reach more children and highlighted that appointments can be made via the MySejahtera application or by visiting government health clinics. Furthermore, the Penang JKN outreach team will be visiting kindergartens, community centres, and non-citizen settlements to ensure all eligible children receive the MR immunisation.