KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will heed the advice of Manila SEA Games organisers by ensuring national athletes are given necessary vaccines, including for polio, before flying over to the Philippines.
Olympic Council of Malaysia deputy president Azim Zabidi said all members of the contingent, comprising 1,114 athletes and officials, will be vaccinated.
“We decided on it after receiving a letter from organisers,” he told reporters at Wisma OCM today.
“There’s a possibility of polio cases in the Philippines. To say there’s an epidemic, I don’t think so. It’s just a precautionary measure.”
The immunisation exercise will commence tomorrow after the contingent meet up for their final assembly.
Prior to this, national athletes had only been subject to compulsory vaccination for measles.
Malaysia will be represented by 774 athletes in 52 of the 56 events contested.