I know most of you here will bring your child for their compulsory vaccinations, either to the health clinics (Klinik Kesihatan) or private clinics/hospital.

But do you know about the diseases that the vaccines cover?

Compulsory vaccines cover 13 diseases:

Tuberculosis (TB) – can cause lung damage, TB meningitis and bone disease.

Hepatitis B – a viral infection that can lead to jaundice or liver cancer.

Diphtheria – causes obstruction of the airway and can lead to heart and brain damage.

Pertussis (Whooping cough) – severe, prolonged coughing fits that can cause lung and brain infections.

Tetanus (Lockjaw) – severe muscle spasm that can lead to death.

Poliomyelitis (Polio)

– permanent muscle weakness that can cause paralysis, especially of the legs.

Measles – present as fever, cough, runny nose and rashes. May be complicated by pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of lining of brain), otitis media (middle ear infection).

Mumps – causes swelling of the glands behind the jaw. May result in inflammation of the testis resulting in sterility.

Rubella (German measles) – may be passed by pregnant women to their babies, resulting in congenital rubella syndrome.

Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) – cause inflammation of lining around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), pneumonia, bronchitis, bacteraemia (blood infection) and ear infection.

Pneumococcal disease-causes pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media (middle ear infection), bacteremia (blood stream infection)

Japanese Encephalitis- can cause encephalitis (swelling of the brain)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)- can cause cervical, vaginal, vulvar and anal cancer