Dr Hilmi and wife Datin Hajjah Jamilah Mohd help a special needs child Muhd nur Artifin Nazeel Norjis, 16, try on a set of Baju Melayu for the coming Hari Raya at the Mydin supermarket at Bukit Jambul. — Bernama photo
GEORGE TOWN: There were 500 cases of parents refusing vaccinations recorded in the first three months of this year, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya.
He said the high number has sparked concern as it was a danger exposing children to diseases which could result in death.
“I am amazed why parents still do not want their children to be immunised against diseases. It’s provided free of charge … the government spends more than RM100 million a year to provide 12 types of vaccinations to all children from birth until the age of 13 years,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after presenting Hari Raya Aidilfitri contributions to 220 disabled people at Mydin Hypermarket in Bukit Jambul here yesterday.
Dr Hilmi said if so many parents chose not to vaccinate their children the herd immunity could break down opening up the population to the risk of outbreaks.
“Many parents have questioned the available vaccines, when in fact we in the ministry have checked and studied them much earlier and all the vaccines are pork-free,” he said.
Dr Hilmi said the vaccine refusal was because people these days trusted the information obtained through the Internet which were mostly inaccurate.
He said the ministry was currently running an awareness campaign including holding meetings with experts to provide advice to parents nationwide to allow their children to be vaccinated.
“There are 12 types of essential vaccines which should be given to children and the most important is the 5-in-1 vaccine meant to protect against threats of diseases including diphtheria,” he said.
“The two cases of the diphtheria death was because the 5-in-1 vaccine was not administered,” he said.
Asked whether the government would make it compulsory for parents to vaccinate their children, Dr Hilmi said the matter has not been decided.
There were two suspected cases of death due to diphtheria infection, one in Melaka last Saturday and another in Kedah four days later. — Bernama