Vaccination a must under Islam, say muftis

KUALA LUMPUR: It is compulsory under Islam to use vaccines against diseases which can cause death, two state muftis have clarified.

Kelantan mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad said vaccines were needed to protect the infected person as well as others.

“If it makes a difference between life and death, it can be considered an emergency, so taking the vaccine is a must,” he said.

Mohamad Shukri said the anti-vaccine group should not assume that vaccines contained unclean or forbidden substances.

“The Health Ministry has researched and investigated the contents. We have to trust the authorities,” he said.

Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria said the use of vaccines had been long approved.

“The law must be obeyed, on condition the vaccine is halal. If there is no halal vaccine at the time as it contains forbidden substance, it can still be taken,” he said.

Bernama also reported that the Kelantan Health Department would enhance its immunisation campaign to curb diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and polio among others.

It quoted department director Datuk Dr Ahmad Razin Ahmad Mahir as saying that the public, particularly those in rural areas, still lacked awareness on the importance of vaccination.

“We will carry out follow-up action for children who have yet to undergo immunisation, especially in rural areas, and have identified groups who have refused vaccinations.

Among the reasons cited for not getting their children immunised were their health conditions and the distance of the clinics from home.

The Health Ministry also shared on its Facebook page a series of co­­mic strips to educate Malay­sians. It highlights how smallpox is fought through vaccination, besides explaining how vaccination led to a de­­crease in polio, measles and rubella.

The comics also rubbished the myth that autism was caused by vaccination. They can be viewed on www.facebook.com/kementeriankesihatanmalaysia/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10153536733531237.