SHAH ALAM, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Foreigners and refugees in Selangor are not eligible for vaccination under the influenza immunisation programme, implemented by the state government or the Ministry of Health (MOH), the State Legislative Assembly was told today.
State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the MOH is currently carrying out the influenza immunisation programme for healthcare workers and senior citizens aged 60 and above with at least one comorbidity, subject to vaccine availability.
“Therefore, those who are not part of the eligible groups, including foreigners and refugees, are advised to obtain the influenza vaccine at private health facilities that offer it,” she said in reply to a question from Mohd Shafie Ngah (PN-Sungai Ramal) on the public influenza immunisation programme for such groups in Selangor.
Meanwhile, Jamaliah said the state government would assess the need to expand the programme to five other districts, depending on the current health assessment by the Selangor State Health Department.
She said that, if there was a need to expand the programme next year, the state government would focus on selected primary schools in districts not covered this year, prioritising those with certain risk factors.
“Among the factors taken into account are the influenza infection rate, population density and the availability of vaccination facilities.
“It will also involve vulnerable and high-risk groups, including the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases,” she said in response to a question from Muhammad Izuan Ahmad Kasim (PH-Kota Damansara) regarding plans to expand the programme to all districts in 2026.
On Nov 2, Jamaliah was reported to have said that the state government would launch a free influenza vaccination programme next week in four districts with the highest infection rates, namely Petaling, Klang, Gombak and Hulu Langat.
She said the programme aimed to reach 12,500 students from B40 families, with an allocation of RM1 million.
--BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
