GEORGE TOWN, June 24 — More parents are refusing vaccination for their young children despite the free service, Health Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said today.

He said the first three months of this year already saw 500 cases of parents refusing vaccinations for their children.

"So if we are to make an estimation based on the first three months of this year, we expect about 2,000 cases of rejection by the end of this year,” he said.

According to Dr Hilmi, a total 1,500 vaccine rejection cases were recorded last year.

He said the Health Ministry views this seriously as the increasing number of parents rejecting vaccination is alarming.

"I hope the parents immediately take their children in to be vaccinated because it is not too late and the vaccination is free,” he said in a press conference after handing out Hari Raya aid to disabled children and the less fortunate at Mydin Bukit Jambul this morning.

He added that vaccination is important to prevent the spread of diseases like diphtheria.

"We find that some parents refused vaccination because of the inaccurate information they read in the Internet,” he said.

He assured parents that the side effects of vaccinations, such as fever, were mild and only temporary but the vaccination will benefit the children in the long term to protect them from preventable diseases.

Dr Hilmi said the ministry has started mobilising all its health officers to educate parents on the advantages of vaccination.

"Parents, especially the anti-vaccine groups, must be informed about the benefits of vaccination,” he said.

The Health Ministry will also monitor the anti-vaccine groups against influencing others into rejecting inoculation.

"We don’t want preventable diseases like diphtheria to continue to be spread,” he said.

A total of 11 diphtheria cases have been reported, with two fatalities, in Kedah and Malacca. Most of those infected were not vaccinated.