The Maltese Paediatric Association today said that legislation must be passed for all children to be vaccinated in line with the national immunisation schedule.

The association also said that children who are not vaccinated should not be admitted in child care centres, nurseries and schools.

In a resolution passed on 3 May, but made public only today, the association speaks of the effectiveness and safety of the DTP-IPV-Hib, MMR and Hepatitis B vaccines.

Vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, mumps, pertussis, Hib and Hepatitis B pose a serious health risk to children, especially to infants.

The legislation in Malta only specifies that vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and rubella are obligatory; it does not mention that immunisation against pertussis, Hib, mumps, measles and Hepatitis B are compulsory.

The association noted that many infants are attending nurseries at a very young age before they can be effectively vaccinated.

The decreasing uptake of these vaccines will lower herd immunity, put unimmunised children as well as other children and adults who come in contact with them, at risk of potentially deadly or disabling diseases.

The association called on the Health and Education Ministry to pass legislation and not admit unimmunised children.