ALOR SETAR: Kedah recorded the highest number of vaccine rejection cases in the country with 318 cases in 2015, more than the 239 cases in 2014.

Kedah health director Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail said the three districts with the highest numbers for 2015 were Baling (70 cases), Padang Terap (42) and Kulim (41).

Factors cited for the rejection were doubt over the halal status of vaccines (75.8%), practising homeopathy (18.6%), no confidence in vaccine effectiveness (0.9%), side effects in infants (1.5%) attitude (2.5%) and financial problems (0.6%).

"If we look at the breakdown, 99.3% who rejected the vaccine are Malays while the rest are non-Malaysian citizens," he told Bernama.

On June 22, a two-year-old boy from Kuala Muda was admitted to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital along with six siblings for suspected diphtheria.

Of the seven siblings, four children, including the deceased, were not immunised against diphtheria.

Norhizan said the halal status of the vaccine should not arise as the National Fatwa Committee decided that the vaccine was not unclean and had no elements of doubt its content.

"As such, we advise parents to ensure that their children receive immunisation according to the schedule set by the Health Ministry," he added. - Bernama



