SCHOOL BAN FOR UNVACCINATED KIDS?
Govt considering allowing enrolment only for immunised children, says Wan Azizah
THE government is studying the possibility of allowing only children who have received immunisation to enrol in schools.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the proposal would be studied in detail.
“That’s one of the things we are proposing as part of prevention of diseases,” she said after launching the Petronas Foundation here yesterday.
On Monday, Bernama reported that several parties, including the Malaysian Islamic Doctors Association and Malaysia I-Medic, had suggested the move to be implemented to protect children from preventable diseases, such as diphtheria and measles.
This followed the death a 2year-old boy in Johor last week from what was believed to be diphtheria infection. The boy had never been vaccinated.
Five other children, who were reported to have been in contact with the victim, also tested positive for diphtheria and were quarantined at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also women, family and community development minister, said immunisation was safe and should not be doubted on its halal status as the Islamic Development Department had issued a fatwa to verify it.
She said the immunisation programme in 2017 reached 88 per cent of the original target of 95 per cent.
Earlier in her speech at the launch of the foundation, Dr Wan Azizah called for closer collaboration between private and public sectors, as well as non-governmental organisations towards effective social development.
“Inclusive social development becomes more impactful when we are aligned to a common cause,” she said.
“It is then that we harness the best we can offer.”
She also commended Petronas’ contribution of RM83 million for the Imbak Canyon Studies Centre in Sabah, which would serve as a research bank for biodiversity protection and conservation in the area.
Petronas Foundation chairman Datuk Ahmad Nizam Salleh said the setting up of the foundation was aimed at streamlining all the corporate and social responsibility work undertaken by the company.