By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, Oct 25 — The Selangor Health Department has seized over RM56,000 worth of unregistered typhoid vaccines from multiple private clinics in the state over the past three years.
Its director Datuk Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman said this includes the most recent raid by the department’s Pharmacy Enforcement Division on five health facilities on October 18, 2023, which saw the confiscation of more than RM12,000 in illegal vaccines.
He said the department acted based on complaints by the public over the offer of typhoid vaccines that were not registered with the Health Ministry’s Drug Control Authority (DCA).
“All these cases are investigated under the Sale of Drugs Act 1952,” he said in a statement today.
The act provides punishment of up to RM25,000 fine or three years imprisonment for individual offenders and a maximum of RM50,000 fine for companies that commit the same offence.
“The state health department advises the public to only purchase and use medicines and health products that are registered with the DCA to ensure their wellbeing and health.”
Sha’ari said vaccines that are not registered may not be safe for use, while the effectiveness and quality are also not guaranteed.
He urged those with information pertaining to the sale of dubious health products and services to file a complaint to the authorities through http://www.pharmacy.gov.my or http://moh.spab.gov.my websites.
Alternatively, the public can directly head to any pharmacy enforcement divisions or call 03-78413200.
Typhoid vaccines are used to prevent typhoid fever, a life-threatening infection caused by the Salmonella Typhi bacteria that spreads through contaminated food or water.
The jabs are meant to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies to combat the bacterial infection.
