KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The Health Ministry (MOH) plans to meet anti-vaccine groups to provide them with facts and information from authentic clinical studies on the Covid-19 vaccine, the Dewan Negara was told Monday (Oct 18).

       Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said he could help arrange the meeting, which would also involve Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

       "I would like to suggest that these groups meet us. We can have a talk about it (vaccination).

       "Do not spread fake news (about the Covid-19 vaccine) as they (those who spread fake news) may end up facing action from the Communications and Multimedia Ministry," he said during the during Question Time at the Dewan Negara on Monday.

       He was replying to a question from Senator Dr Wan Martina Wan Yusoff on the government's action against anti-vaxxers who had, among others, exploited data on the CovidNow portal to influence others against taking the vaccine.

       Dr Noor Azmi was of the view that the groups had not been given a clear explanation on the Covid-19 vaccine, adding that the decision to carry out the vaccination programme was made after taking into account the results of studies conducted locally or abroad.

       He said the MOH had previously stated that vaccination was not a cure against Covid-19 but could boost the immune system to fight the virus.

       On the administration of Covid-19 booster shots, he said there were studies that showed immunity against the virus might wane six months after receiving the vaccine. – Bernama