THE Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday confirmed that the new batch of H1N1 vaccines still had yet to arrive, despite the target arrival deadline being set for the end of February, and that the ministry did not know when the new batch will arrive.
According to the MoH public relations officer, who asked not to be named, the delay was to ensure that the new batch of vaccines meets the quality requirements from their suppliers in Germany and Canada.
“We have done our part in trying to obtain the vaccine, so now we are just waiting for our suppliers to properly test and ensure that this new batch is safe for the public,” he said, reiterating the ministry’s public explanation made weeks ago.
In the meantime, the officer suggested that the public take extra precautions to keep healthy, as they did before the vaccines were made available.
The delay in the arrival of the new batch has forced the ministry’s mass immunisation programme to a halt.
A MoH press statement issued on February 13 announced that the vaccination programme was suspended to ensure that the new batch of vaccines, this batch from a different supplier than previous H1N1 vaccines given to the public, passes all quality and safety requirements imposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Public opinion on the delay of the batch is mixed, and calls into question whether it is even worthwhile being immunised against virus.
Asked about the H1N1 vaccine, university student Lin Ji Liaw, 21, said that she doesn’t agree with the H1N1 vaccine as she says there have not been enough scientific trials on the drug and she thought the possibility of side effects were high.
“Not conducting enough studies on this vaccine can really be dangerous, especially since the public have the highest demand,” she said. “I prefer to look after my own health. Our body’s immune systems are made to fight and the only way for it to adapt is without the help of pharmaceuticals.”
If a person knows they are healthy, then H1N1 would not be a big problem, she added.
Mother-of-two Hjh Nurkhadijah Hj Junaidi, 38, said that she does not worry about the H1N1 vaccine anymore, as she says it has only caused a nationwide panic amongst adults when it is more important amongst children.
“Everyone is too worried about their own health that they actually forget who is most vulnerable to these kinds of problems, which are children,” she said. “I took both of my children to get the first batch of the H1N1 vaccine and now I can rest assured that my children will be fine.”
Asked whether she will take her children for a second jab, she declined, saying that her children should be able to develop the antibodies to counter the virus by now and with uncertainty of its success, she’d rather be safe than sorry.
Freelance photographer Md Fadhli Emran said that he is happy with the MoH’s efforts in making sure that the vaccines meet their standards, but at the same time is cautious when it comes to taking it for himself.
“I was just lucky enough to not get the chance to get this new H1N1 vaccine as I was planning to get it the day before the MoH suspended (the immunisation campaign),” said the 26-year-old. “I do trust that the ministry is doing whatever they can to prevent any mishaps or side effects with this new batch, but I don’t think the rest of the public would agree with my optimism.”
Md Fadhli hopes that the ministry will find a way to guarantee him and the public of the upcoming batch’s effectiveness and reliability to end this nationwide dispute.
The MoH declined to mention any estimated time of arrival for the H1N1 vaccines in the Sultanate.The Brunei Times
Latest by Amir Noor:
- RBAirF Sports Complex to be ready in July 2011
- 'Harness the power of wind to meet future energy demand'
- Brunei, M'sia sign deal to boost SME growth
- Fire victim to get new home from YSHHB
- 2 RBAF officers to study at US military academies
