THE number of children denied vaccinations by their parents is creeping up, with 1,603 cases recorded last year compared with only 1,511 the year before, Health Minister Dr. S. Subramaniam said in Parliament today.

He said his ministry made a constant effort to identify parents who had rejected vaccines for their children, and to educate them on the importance of immunisation.

Dr Subramaniam said information on the importance of vaccines was also being disseminated to the public through the press, and via websites and factsheets.

“On the halal and haram (of vaccines) issues for Muslims, we also work with Jakim (Islamic Development Department) on this.

“Several edicts have been issued by the religious body on the benefits of vaccination.”

He said the ministry was also studying how Australian health authorities protected children in schools from illnesses and other children who were not vaccinated.

“In Australia, children are allowed to register for kindergarten only if they have been vaccinated. This is not discrimination, but protection of others.”

Dr Subramaniam was answering a question by Dr Izani Husin (Pengkalan Chepa-PAS) on what the government planned to do with parents who did not want vaccinate their children, in order to halt the spread of vaccine-preventable.

On whether certain groups were against vaccines because of bad experiences when dealing with medical officers, Subramaniam said these groups often had no bad experiences with vaccinations.

“Such (anti-vaccination) groups exist everywhere around the world. They exist on social media, and create the perception that complications may occur after an infant has been vaccinated.

“But studies have shown that vaccines prevent contractible diseases.” – July 27, 2017.