Dengue cases jump 60.8pc as MOH weighs vaccine rollout due to high cost

On August 27, the Minister of Health, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, disclosed that the Ministry of Health (MOH) is evaluating a dengue vaccine before incorporating it into the National Immunisation Programme (NIP). The minister emphasized that the studies encompassed a cost-benefit analysis, taking into account the high price of the newly approved vaccine.

Dzulkefly stated that determining the dengue vaccine's inclusion in the NIP is a meticulous process, with the Ministry awaiting more affordable vaccine options. He made this announcement after inaugurating the Negeri Sembilan Dental Specialist Centre, an event attended by Health Deputy Director-General (Oral Health), Dr Zuraida Mohamed, and State Health Director Dr Zuraida Mohamed.

The minister reported that over 61,000 dengue cases had been recorded nationwide up to Epidemiological Week 33 of 2026, a 60.8% increase compared to the same period the previous year, with 58 fatalities. Consequently, the MOH activated the dengue operations room and deployed personnel to high-risk areas, particularly in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, while expanding the use of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes for biological control.

The health minister stressed that combating dengue is a collective effort involving multiple parties, such as local authorities and relevant agencies, to prevent Aedes mosquito breeding in residential areas. Additionally, the MOH is reviewing the proposal to incorporate dental screening and treatment into the PeKa B40 scheme, which will be implemented once approved.

The PPPNS, a first-of-its-kind dental specialist referral facility outside a hospital environment, has treated 11,085 patients since its operation began on September 25, 2025. The centre, which covers Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Melaka, now has 18 modern dental chairs, boosting daily treatment capacity by nearly 90% and reducing the waiting period for specialist treatment from two months to two to three weeks.

The MOH plans to expand this centralised model to other states in phases, beginning with zonal levels like the central zone in Negeri Sembilan and the Borneo zone before continuing to individual states to ensure equitable access to services. Furthermore, the Ministry is striving to improve public access to basic dental services through outreach programmes, with eight new Mobile Dental Clinics expected to be delivered by the end of this year to Sabah, Perlis, Penang, Selangor, Putrajaya, and Johor.