KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — In its Friday sermon today, Malaysia’s federal Islamic authority told Muslims that it was necessary to get vaccinated as it prevents deadly diseases not only for the individual self, but the community.

In the sermon on caring for physical and spiritual health, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said many Islamic scholars have concluded that immunisation was not wrong and even encouraged as it is a matter of need and not desire.

“One of the aspects of caring for yourself is the prevention of disease through vaccination jabs to shield the community from exposure to life threatening diseases.

“These injections are meant to strengthen antibodies or strengthen the body's resistance to diseases, as well as protect the body from pathogens, and prevent bad diseases and complications of diseases like chickenpox, tuberculosis, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus or polio,” the sermon said today.

Advertisement

“This is why many Islamic scholars have agreed that vaccination is allowed based on the methods hinted by the Prophet.”

The government yesterday warned parents who refuse to vaccinate their offspring that they risk being prosecuted for child abuse.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry reminded the anti-vaccination movement that punishments under Section 31 of the Child Act 2001 for those who abuse, neglect, abandon, or expose a child in such a way that will likely cause physical or emotional injury, were enhanced under a 2015 amendment.

Advertisement

The anti-vaccination movement, where parents oppose immunisations of their children on religious grounds, has been blamed for the resurgence of preventable diseases like diphtheria, measles and whooping cough.

Five people, including three children under the age of 10, recently died from diphtheria, while the number of measles cases in Malaysia jumped by 340 per cent to 873 cases as of the first week of June compared to the corresponding period last year, according to the Health Ministry.

Local daily the New Straits Times recently reported Family Medicine Specialists Association of Malaysia president Dr Norsiah Ali as saying that the number of parents who refused to vaccinate their children increased from 470 cases in 2013 to 1,054 cases as of May last year.

On Sunday, the Health Ministry said it will consult Jakim over a possible fatwa or religious edict to make it compulsory for Muslim parents to vaccinate their children.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said after discussing with Jakim, the ministry will then approach the Muzakarah National Fatwa Committee Council in Islamic Affairs, informally called the National Fatwa Council, on the matter.