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Cost Guide To Common Vaccinations In Malaysia

The HPV vaccination can help prevent cervical cancer in women.

 

In the wake of global health crises, more people might be proactively getting vaccinations to protect their health. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), ”vaccines train your immune system to create antibodies, just as it does when it’s exposed to a disease. However, because vaccines contain only killed or weakened forms of germs like viruses or bacteria, they do not cause the disease or put you at risk of its complications.” 

Although our exposure to vaccination was enhanced greatly during the Covid pandemic, it should not be entirely unfamiliar to us as Covid vaccines are not the only vaccines we have been advised to take over the years. As young children, we were given mandatory vaccinations. Besides, some people especially vulnerable populations adopt the habit of getting periodic vaccinations to maintain their health. There are also routine vaccines we can take for the flu. 

Child Vaccinations 

Early child vaccinations help protect your child from harmful diseases when they still have a developing immune system. According to the National Immunisation Programme’s schedule, the following are mandatory vaccinations for infants, children and adolescents up to 15 years of age. 

Tuberculosis (BCG) 

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria and is characterised with symptoms such as prolonged coughing, fatigue, weight loss and fever. Tuberculosis is an airborne disease that is passed to others when an infected person coughs, sneezes or spits. 

Cost: Free for Malaysian children Private facilities such as KMI Healthcare and Klinik Radia charge RM75 per dose and RM101 for vaccination against tuberculosis.

Hepatitis B 

Hepatitis B is a liver disease that can lead to severe illnesses including liver cancer. It is spread through close contact with bodily fluids such as blood and saliva and can be passed from a mother to a baby. 

Cost: Free for Malaysian children At private facilities, KMI Healthcare and ParkCity Medical Centre charge RM220 and RM207 for three doses.

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTap) 

DTap is a combination vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Diphtheria is a disease caused by a type of bacteria which releases the diphtheria toxin which kills healthy tissues, resulting in severe health issues. 

Tetanus is a disease caused by a type of bacteria and comes with symptoms such as spasms of the jaw muscle and difficulty with swallowing. Tetanus patients require immediate medical attention. Pertussis also known as whooping cough, is a disease that has symptoms similar to a cold but the coughing continues for extended period up to weeks. It is highly infectious. 

Cost: Free for Malaysian children 

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) 

The Haemophilus Influenzae bacteria cause mild to serious infections in patients including ear infection, bronchitis, meningitis and pneumonia. 

Cost: Free for Malaysian children 

Polio 

Polio is a life-threatening virus disease that attacks the nervous system and causes total paralysis within several hours in the infected person. Children under the age of 5 are most susceptible to polio. A highly infectious disease, polio is spread through person-to-person contact or through a common vehicle such as water and food. 

Cost: Free for Malaysian children 

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) 

Measles is a viral disease that’s highly infectious through air and causes rash, fever, cough and runny nose. The virus attacks the respiratory tract and can result in death. 

Mumps is a contagious disease caused by close contact with others and leads to painful swelling of jaw, fever and fatigue. Rubella is an infectious disease that usually starts with a rash on the face and have mild symptoms that are not easily noticeable.  

Cost: Free for Malaysian children 

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) 

The Japanese Encephalitis vaccine is only administered in the Sarawak state. The virus is spread through mosquitoes and is characterised by symptoms like fever, headache, neck stiffness and seizures in severe cases.  

Cost: Free for Malaysian children 

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 

Vaccine for the Human Papillomavirus is given to children at the age of 13. In mild cases, the Human Papillomavirus affects the skin and throat. However, persistent infections with high-risk Human Papillomavirus types can cause cervical cancer. 

Cost: Free for Malaysian children 

The vaccinations mentioned above are available at private facilities at a charge. Private medical centre Pantai Hospital offers vaccination package for newborns at RM1,750 consisting of vaccinations for DTap, Hib, Hepatitis B, MMR and pneumococcal. Columbia Asia has a vaccination package for babies aged one to 18 months old at RM1,950, which includes vaccinations for DTap, Hib, Hepatitis B, Polio, MMR and pneumococcal.

Adult Vaccinations 

Besides from child vaccinations, adults may consider to get certain vaccinations, especially if your lifestyle or work expose you to certain viruses or bacteria. 

According to the adult immunisation schedule by the Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases And Chemotherapy, the following are some vaccines you may consider getting.   

Influenza 

Influenza or flu is an infectious illness that affects your respiratory system with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue and headaches. 

Influenza can attack people of any age and it is recommended that one gets the influenza vaccine once annually for health protection. 

You can get influenza vaccine without subsidies at private hospitals. Columbia Asia and Assunta Hospital offers influenza vaccination at RM65. 

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (Tdap) 

The Tdap booster is recommended for women with pregnancy of 16 weeks and above to protect you and your baby’s health.  

The University Malaya Specialist Centre offers Tdap vaccines at RM81 while Columbia Asia offers Tdap vaccinations at RM88. 

Chickenpox  

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus that is infectious through close contact with an infected person. Symptoms for chickenpox include itchy and blister rash on your skin. 

Columbia Asia and Siti Putra Perdana Clinic charges RM130 and RM180 for chickenpox vaccinations. 

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the main causes of cervical cancer in women. Adult women are advised to get three doses of HPV vaccines from age 19 to 26. 

Assunta Hospital offers HPV vaccination at RM1,550 for three doses while Columbia Asia offers HPV vaccination at RM550 per dose. 

Pneumococcal 

Pneumococcal is a disease caused by a type of bacteria that inhabits a person’s nose and can result in pneumonia and meningitis. The disease can happen to anyone.  

KMI Healthcare offers vaccines for pneumococcal at RM300 per dose for PCV 13. Meanwhile, Gleneagles offer flu and pneumococcal vaccines from RM120 and onwards. 

Hepatitis B 

Hepatitis B is a liver disease and adults are recommended to take three doses of vaccinations from the age of 19 to over 65. 

Columbia Asia charges RM45 for one dose of Hepatitis B vaccinations while ParkCity Medical Centre offers three doses of vaccination at RM207.   

Read Also: 5 Things Malaysians Can Get For Free (And How Much Do They Actually Cost)? 

 

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