Vaccination not mandatory

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KUALA LUMPUR: Vaccination will not be made compulsory for the time being but there is a need to further educate parents on the importance of having their children immunised, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

Noting that not all matters could be enforced by law, he said nevertheless, awareness on vaccination to prevent diseases like diphtheria, measles and others was still low among parents, especially in rural areas.

“The focus is to continue to give people the correct idea that they are not living on an isolated island by themselves and they are endangering others if their children are not vaccinated,” he told reporters at the SJK (T) Ampang here yesterday.

Dr Subramaniam, according to Bernama, expected challenges in tackling three groups, namely the anti-vaccine group, hardcore poor and migrants. Expressing concern over the spread of diphtheria, he called on parents to be more open about having their children vaccinated to keep it in check.

Dr Subramaniam said the ministry was also looking at cooperating with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development on educating the public on vaccination as it involved families.

“They can play a role as you may have the mother who wants to get the child vaccinated, but the father refuses. These are complex issues that need to be addressed accordingly.” There have been 13 confirmed diphteria cases nationwide, of which five were fatal. Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial disease that causes inflammation of the mucous membranes, potentially hindering breathing and swallowing. It could cause fatal heart and nerve damage.

The disease spreads from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets such as from coughing or sneezing. A person may also get diphtheria by coming into contact with an object, such as a toy, which has the bacteria that cause diphtheria on it. Meanwhile, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Rohani Karim recently advised Muslim parents not to hesitate to get their children vaccinated for diphtheria as it is allowed under fatwa, despite there being non-halal substances in the vaccine.

She added that Muslim parents should not be worried as she had consulted an ustaz regarding the matter. The ustaz assured her that if it is classified as a medicine, it is permitted to be taken.

“Indeed, there is something in the vaccine that is not halal, but there is a fatwa that says if it is classified as a medicine, so it can be taken. I understand it is a very difficult decision but it is a life and death situation because if not taken (vaccine) then there will be the possibility of the children contracting the infection,” she said during a breaking of fast event in Kuching.

Rohani also said parents must understand that vaccination or immunisation was part of the procedures used to prevent and control the spread of a disease.

As such, she urged parents to change their attitude and not be obsessed with old-fashioned views on issues related to vaccination following calls on social media asking Muslim parents to refuse the vaccine.

“All nurseries under my ministry have been directed to give notice of warning to parents to ensure their children get the necessary injections. Parents must ensure their baby gets vaccinated as scheduled by the Ministry of Health starting from birth,” she said.