10 measures to fight flu pandemic,but when will A H1N1 vaccines be available?

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Health Ministry to clarify what it means by vaccines to high-risk groups to reduce infection risk.

On 19.6.2009, Dr Tan comments on the 10 measures instituted by the Health Ministry to combat influenza A H1N1 pandemic.

Yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin issued 10 strict measures against the influenza pandemic that was declared by the World Helath Organization last week.
These include compulsory health declaration form on board the plane. Failure to comply means a jail term of up to two years and a fine of up to RM 10,000.

Other measures comprise social distancing if the number of locally-transmitted cases increases (hitherto, there is one case), scanning of body temperatures on board aircraft and vaccines to high-risk groups such as doctors and nurses.

All people must follow these measures. But, the Health Ministry must clarify the use of vaccines on frontline personnel. It takes three to four months to manufacture vaccines against A H1N1. The outbreak began in April, 2009. Major laboratories in the world have been working hard to produce vaccines against the virus. The race to be the first to manufacture the vaccines is intense. Do we see the appearance of vaccines in July, 2009?

Even if a major factory can produce the vaccines, when will they be available in Malaysia?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw