The Health Ministry will discuss with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) on the possibility of coming out with a fatwa to make vaccinations mandatory among Muslims.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said, “We want JAKIM to consult the National Fatwa Council to see whether an edict can be issued to make immunization mandatory among Muslims,” New Straits Times Online reported. The decree comes in the wake of reports that parents, particularly Muslims, are rejecting vaccinations for their children, citing doubts over the ‘halal’ status. The number of parents refusing vaccinations is expected to increase further this year.
To date, the country has reported two deaths due to diphtheria in Malacca and Kedah, where both victims, aged 2 and 7, did not receive the complete diphtheria immunization.
