Doctors have called for all children in Malaysia to be first immunised against diphtheria and measles as a practical way to kickstart the compulsory policy on vaccination as suggested by the Health Ministry. This is because both the diseases are the most serious.
Asia Pacific Pediatric Association secretary-general Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail said there was no need for a blanket ruling mandating vaccination for all 12 major childhood diseases.
“This would protect all children in schools, kindergartens and nurseries,” said Dr Zulkifli, who is also the technical committee chairman of Immunise4Life, an expert-driven community education initiative to promote immunisation.
Dr Zulkifli said at present, it is not mandatory for children to be immunised before being allowed to enrol in school.
He was responding to a statement by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad on Saturday that it would be tabling a proposal and a policy to make immunisation vaccination compulsory.
According to the Health Ministry, misinformation about vaccination had led to a huge jump in the number of vaccine-preventable diseases, with cases of measles jumping over ten-fold from 125 in 2013 to 1,467 last year.
A lack of immunisation was detected last year in all six measles deaths recorded and in 19 of the 22 deaths from whooping cough (pertussis).
Countries that had made immunisation for certain diseases mandatory include France, Belgium and Italy.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof said the Federal Territory Mufti had issued a fatwa stating that vaccines made in Malaysia were halal (permissible).
Mujahid urged sceptics debating whether immunisation vaccination was allowed in Islam to stop, adding that this was affecting children’s health. “In Islam, we are clear that based on the fatwa, it is encouraged for Muslims to vaccinate their children but it can be compulsory if this (non-vaccination) affects the health of the children,” he said.
“This would protect all children in schools, kindergartens and nurseries,” said Dr Zulkifli, who is also the technical committee chairman of Immunise4Life, an expert-driven community education initiative to promote immunisation.
Dr Zulkifli said at present, it is not mandatory for children to be immunised before being allowed to enrol in school.
He was responding to a statement by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad on Saturday that it would be tabling a proposal and a policy to make immunisation vaccination compulsory.
According to the Health Ministry, misinformation about vaccination had led to a huge jump in the number of vaccine-preventable diseases, with cases of measles jumping over ten-fold from 125 in 2013 to 1,467 last year.
A lack of immunisation was detected last year in all six measles deaths recorded and in 19 of the 22 deaths from whooping cough (pertussis).
Countries that had made immunisation for certain diseases mandatory include France, Belgium and Italy.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof said the Federal Territory Mufti had issued a fatwa stating that vaccines made in Malaysia were halal (permissible).
Mujahid urged sceptics debating whether immunisation vaccination was allowed in Islam to stop, adding that this was affecting children’s health. “In Islam, we are clear that based on the fatwa, it is encouraged for Muslims to vaccinate their children but it can be compulsory if this (non-vaccination) affects the health of the children,” he said.
/theSTAR 25-20-2019
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