THE Ministry of Health (MOH) is weighing whether vaccination should form part of its strategy against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), with the Health Ministry cautioning that the available vaccine targets only one of the many viruses responsible for the disease.
The ministry’s Disease Control Division said it was evaluating the feasibility and potential role of HFMD vaccination in the country, considering the epidemiology of the disease and the enteroviruses currently in circulation.
“The currently available vaccine provides protection specifically against EV-A71,” the division said.
However, EV-A71 accounted for only 1.5% of enteroviruses detected in Malaysia so far this year, while most infections involved other viruses, including Pan-Enterovirus and Coxsackievirus A6.
The ministry said this meant the potential role of an EV-A71 vaccine had to be assessed against the broader pattern of HFMD transmission and the viruses driving infections in Malaysia.
“The ministry will continue to monitor the HFMD situation, enteroviruses and emerging scientific evidence. We will review the need and appropriate role of HFMD vaccination in Malaysia from time to time,” it said.
HFMD, which mainly affects young children, can spread through direct contact with respiratory secretions or saliva, fluid from blisters and faeces, as well as contaminated surfaces and objects.
The disease is caused by about 20 types of enteroviruses, with Coxsackievirus A16, Coxsackievirus A6 and EV-A71 among the main strains associated with infections.
Malaysia records tens of thousands of HFMD cases annually, with infections surging 266% in the first quarter of last year compared with the corresponding period in 2024.
“The increase in cases last year was likely due to a combination of the natural cyclical pattern of HFMD, changes in circulating enteroviruses, and increased transmission through close contact in childcare settings and the community,” said the ministry’s Disease Control Division.
“Changes in the main viruses were also noticed, with more cases of Coxsackievirus A16 in 2025, followed by a move towards EV-A71,” The Star cited it saying.
The trend has since reversed dramatically, with HFMD cases falling by almost 83% this year.
As of Aug 22, Malaysia had recorded 40,879 cases, compared with 239,907 cases during the corresponding period last year.
Meanwhile, a local pharmaceutical company is seeking to import and market a finished HFMD vaccine from China, with plans to potentially move towards local production.
The vaccine, intended for children aged between six months and six years, is currently under review by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency.
China has approved three EV71 vaccines, while the World Health Organisation has reported efficacy rates ranging from 90% to 97.4% after two doses over one year of surveillance.
The ministry’s review therefore comes as Malaysia faces a key policy question: whether an EV-A71 vaccine would provide sufficient public health value when the vast majority of enteroviruses currently detected in the country are not EV-A71, particularly amid a steep decline in overall HFMD infections. - August 26, 2026
